Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has declared a “provincial wildfire state of emergency” as firefighters and residents combat a growing number of wildfires, with no end in sight to the crisis.

Speaking at a news conference in St. Albert, Sask., Moe said there are currently 17 active wildfires in the province that have forced the evacuation of about 15 communities.

“Just looking ahead to the weather forecast, it just doesn’t look good,” said Moe. “It looks like it is going to further deteriorate — there is no rain in the forecast.”

Three First Nations in Saskatchewan have also declared a joint state of emergency in response to escalating wildfires.

The Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and Montreal Lake Cree Nation cite “critical shortages” in firefighting resources,

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