Saskatchewan rural municipalities are hoping for provincial help in
paying firefighting bills that run into the millions of dollars.
Representatives from six rural municipalities in the Mervin and Loon
Lake regions of the province’s northwest met with the Saskatchewan
Association of Rural Municipalities June 19 to detail their financial
predicaments from fighting fires this spring.
Neal Hardy, SARM president, said two municipalities already have
incurred costs in excess of $5 million, with the others expected to
tally their expenses in the coming days.
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“They’re not saying they wouldn’t pay anything,” said Hardy.
“They believe they have a cost and a responsibility.”
Once figures are in from all affected areas, Hardy plans to take the
information to a committee comprising three provincial departments
looking into how to deal with the municipal fire costs incurred this
year. SARM does not expect a resolution before the end of summer.
Ground fires continued and high fire hazard ratings remained in place
last week from tinder dry conditions in these regions.
Darren Elder, administrator for the RM of Loon Lake, said fires that
began in early May in the region encompass about 100,000 acres and
include grassland, pastures, fence lines and resort areas.
“They are not under control, but contained,” he said.
He estimated as many as 80 municipalities have been touched by fire
this year.
While firefighting costs are typically borne by the local municipality,
Elder said fires of this size outstrip their manpower resources and
require the help of Saskatchewan Environment.
Citing an estimated $2.9 million price tag for firefighting in his
municipality as of June 10, Elder said, “There’s no way we can pay.”
He said whatever decision is made on handling these costs will set a
precedent for the province.
“The RM has never before had to deal with one on this scale,” he said,
noting dry conditions over several consecutive years led to this fire.
In the Mervin municipality, 52 cabins were destroyed as an 800-acre
fire swept through resorts and pastures, said local administrator Ryan
Domotor.
Costs are pegged around $1.9 million and climbing.
“That’s more than one year’s budget,” said Domotor. “I have no idea how
we will pay.”
Even if the environment department helps pay the bill, that still
leaves the municipality with costs in the hundreds of thousands of
dollars.
