Wildfires are wreaking havoc across the Canadian Prairies, prompting urgent evacuations and criminal charges. On Friday, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced that two individuals have been charged with starting wildfires, including one linked to a blaze near La Ronge that has forced 7,000 residents to evacuate.

"The RCMP have informed us that they have now charged a couple of individuals," Moe stated during a news conference. The Saskatchewan RCMP did not immediately respond to requests for further comment. Currently, Saskatchewan is grappling with 24 active wildfires, displacing between 10,000 and 15,000 people.

Moe emphasized the human factor in these fires, saying, "Many if not virtually all of the fires that we’re dealing with in Saskatchewan, although not intentionally, are human caused. Some of those have been intentionally human caused." The province, along with Manitoba, is under a state of emergency, facilitating coordinated responses from various government levels.

In Manitoba, the situation is equally dire. An additional 1,000 residents were ordered to evacuate from the town of Snow Lake due to a large wildfire threatening the area. The fire has expanded to over 3,000 square kilometers, already displacing all 5,000 residents of Flin Flon and about 1,000 more from nearby cottages and homes.

A notice on Snow Lake's Facebook page warned, "You must leave because of the danger to your health and safety." With the latest evacuations, Manitoba now has approximately 19,000 people displaced. The province is currently battling 27 wildfires, with eight classified as out of control.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew reported that evacuees have found temporary accommodations with friends, family, or in shelters. However, he noted that securing private accommodations is challenging due to many hotel rooms being reserved for individuals with serious medical needs. "We just have to do a balancing act," Kinew explained. "At this point, the big-picture challenge around rooms has largely been addressed. It’s now just about the daily balancing act of triaging people coming in and people who are already in shelters and matching them up with rooms."

Shelters have been established in Winnipeg, Thompson, and Brandon to assist those displaced. Meanwhile, the City of Flin Flon reported no structural losses in the city or nearby Creighton, Saskatchewan. However, heavy smoke and fire are moving toward the south side of Flin Flon due to shifting winds. Fire protection measures, including sprinklers, have been implemented to safeguard properties.

In northern Alberta, about 1,300 residents of Swan Hills were allowed to return home after evacuating due to a wildfire. However, in the County of Grande Prairie, residents were ordered to evacuate as the fire threat continues to escalate.