News release
Saskatchewan RCMP update on operations in wildfire-affected communities
June 6, 2025
-
Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan
From: Saskatchewan RCMP
On this page
Content
Saskatchewan RCMP officers are continuing – alongside a team of other first responders – to keep communities as safe and secure as possible as dangerous fires continue to burn in the province’s north.
“Saskatchewan RCMP is thinking of the many people in northern Saskatchewan whose homes and business have been destroyed by fire. We mourn alongside the affected communities – they are our communities too,” says Supt. Devin Pugh, the officer overseeing the Saskatchewan RCMP’s response to the wildfires. “We also are thinking of the thousands of people displaced by fires. As you and your loved ones remain evacuated for your safety – know that Saskatchewan RCMP officers are working to keep your neighbourhoods as secure as possible.”
Maintaining a police presence in evacuated communities
Saskatchewan RCMP officers will remain in communities affected by fire until it becomes too imminently dangerous for them to be there, Supt. Pugh explains. They are the final people to leave a community, alongside firefighters.
There are officers patrolling and responding to calls for service in all northern Saskatchewan communities – including in the La Ronge and Creighton detachment areas, which have been heavily and tragically affected by wildfire.
“We are maintaining a strong police presence to deter any people who are thinking of committing crime – and potentially making an already-stressful situation worse for their potential victims”, says S/Sgt. Shawn Carter from Saskatchewan RCMP’s North District Management Team.
Officers are regularly patrolling communities that are evacuated.
Saskatchewan RCMP has charged two individuals in relation to thefts reported in evacuated areas. On June 4, Saskatchewan RCMP received a report that a vehicle had been stolen from a residence in La Ronge. The vehicle was located later that day at a check point on Highway #2. As a result of further investigation, Waskesiu RCMP officers located and seized a laptop and package from the vehicle. They also located mail that allowed them to connect the recovered items to a theft reported in La Ronge on June 3.
Two occupants of the vehicle, both males from La Ronge, were arrested, charged and are before the courts.
Crimes and information can continue to be reported to 310-RCMP during the wildfires. In an emergency, always call 911. Information about crimes can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
Leveraging Saskatchewan RCMP resources from across the province
As the provincial police service, Saskatchewan RCMP is able to mobilize extra and specialized resources from across the province during emergencies.
In this case, officers from Saskatchewan RCMP’s Tactical Support Group and Traffic Services were quickly deployed to help in fire-stricken detachment areas, Supt. Pugh explains. Due to the fires, Saskatchewan RCMP has also redirected approximately 29 officers who were scheduled to assist at the upcoming G7 meeting to help here in our province.
Saskatchewan RCMP’s Divisional Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC) has been activated to help orchestrate the response to the wildfires. It consists of a group of police officers and employees representing different units and sections from the Saskatchewan RCMP. They work together to make sure those on the frontlines have whatever they need.
With the utility and infrastructure outages currently occurring in northern Saskatchewan, DEOC has worked to ensure generators are in place, and that satellite phones and Starlink internet systems are delivered to detachments so they can continue to provide service to their communities.
They also work to ensure there are extra police officers where they are needed – and handle all the logistics of their travel.
DEOC is also working to make sure that the spouses and children of the officers remaining on the frontlines are supported as they are evacuated alongside other community members.
DEOC also works closely with other public safety partners to orchestrate the overall response to the fires. It’s part of the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre, which brings together agencies, organizations and provincial ministries so they can work together on emergency response.
Teamwork on the frontline of the fires
“They knocked on my door and let me know there was fire coming up from behind my house, because I live nearby. They let the fire crews know right away, resulting in a fast response,” says Mayor Joe Hordyski of La Ronge, who has remained in the community alongside other essential workers. “These fires have been a long battle, with a lot of challenges. Fighting them is all about teamwork – and everyone is doing their part.”