As northern Saskatchewan continues to grapple with widespread wildfires, small-town fire departments across the province are banding together, many through a central hub in Warman.
“We’re a nice central location,” said Russ Austin, fire chief of Warman Fire Rescue. “So whether it’s bringing in firefighting skids… or bringing in any fire departments that have firefighters, we try to help get them into crews and get them in the trucks.”
The Warman Fire Department first got involved before a state of emergency was declared.
“Well, a few weeks ago we got a call from SPSA asking if we had a crew that we could send up to Pelican Narrows… and we’ve been involved ever since.”
The department now acts as a hub for trucks, equipment and firefighters from across the province.
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“Our fire trucks have or will be having firefighters from five or six different departments in there. So currently, Osler, Dalmeny and Saskatoon firefighters are going to be …