Canada’s province declares state of emergency as wildfires force thousands to flee

Canada’s Saskatchewan has declared a provincewide state of emergency as wildfires continue to threaten communities and force thousands of residents from their homes, Premier Scott Moe announced on May 30.

The emergency declaration will allow the provincial government to mobilise additional resources to support evacuations and protect communities across the region. 

“Our top priority is always the safety and well-being of Saskatchewan people,” Moe said in a statement posted on X, Caliber.Az reports.

He expressed deep gratitude to the province’s firefighters battling the blazes on the front lines, calling them “incredibly dedicated” and acknowledging their work in the face of “dangerous and unpredictable wildfires.”

Moe added that the government is working closely with local leaders to ensure a coordinated response and to keep the public informed about evolving conditions.

Today, we declared a provincewide state of emergency as wildfires threaten our communities and have already forced thousands of our residents from their homes.

This decision will allow us to mobilize the resources necessary to safely evacuate Saskatchewan residents and to… pic.twitter.com/AnBFMLqok1

— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) May 29, 2025

The wildfire situation across Canada remains critical. In neighbouring Manitoba, Premier Wab Kinew declared a state of emergency on May 28, urging approximately 17,000 residents under evacuation orders to seek shelter in larger urban centers like Winnipeg. Earlier this month, two people were killed in a wildfire in a small town in western Manitoba after they were unable to evacuate in time.

So far this year, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have seen the most damage from Canada’s wildfires, with 1.5 million acres burned across the two provinces, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. 

In 2023, the country experienced record-breaking wildfires that researchers say became the single largest source of global carbon emissions that year.

By Sabina Mammadli