Satellite images, maps show scale of crisis as Saskatchewan wildfires worsen

WATCH: Cole Davenport explains how to utilize online resources to see the full impact of wildfires in northern Saskatchewan.

While not to be used for the protection of people or property – publicly available satellite images and maps can help show the broader scale of a devastating wildfire season in Saskatchewan so far.

The following is a list of resources that can be used to see the impact of wildfires in the province’s north – but are based on estimations and not an exact indication of where fires are burning.

Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) operates a map showing all active fires in Saskatchewan, including labels that indicate the status of any fire.

Red is not contained, pink is ongoing assessment, orange is protecting values and blue is contained.

The map can be accessed here.

“Information on this map is provided as a public service by the Government of Saskatchewan. We cannot guarantee that all information is current and accurate. Users should verify the information before acting on it,” a disclaimer on the interactive website said. “The Saskatchewan Government does not assume any responsibility for any damages caused by (mis)use of this map.”

The SPSA also publishes a static daily map with updates on how many active wildfires are burning in the province.

Evacuation alerts and other critical wildfire updates are viewable on the SaskAlert app and website.

The Highway Hotline can be used to monitor wildfire related road closures.

Fire Information Resource Management System

Powered by NASA satellites, the Fire Information Resource Management System (FIRMS) uses near real-time active fire data to detect fires in Canada and the United States.

The FIRMS map allows users to turn on and off several different filters that can show fire estimations, different satellite views, and more technical data.

FIRMS was originally developed by the University of Maryland with funding from NASA and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Similar data can also be viewed through NASA Worldview, which has a slider for daily images.

Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA)

While lacking the same fire overlays available through FIRMS, the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also operate a satellite monitored by Colorado State University.

In addition to having their imagery available publicly, the team behind the images regularly posts highlights and updates to its Facebook page and website, including several on the wildfires burning in Saskatchewan.

One image posted June 4 also shows the northern lights shimmering above parts of Saskatchewan – while fires burn to the north.

Canadian Wildland Fire Information System

Natural Resources Canada has a series of maps available through its Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, from mapping fire risk across the country to a map showing active fire hotspots.

“A hotspot is a satellite image pixel with high infrared intensity, indicating a heat source. Hotspots from known industrial sources are removed; the remaining hotspots represent vegetation fires, which can be in forest, grass, cropland, or logging debris,” the website reads.

“Not all fires can be identified from satellite imagery, either because the fires are too small or because cloud cover obscures the satellite’s view of the ground.”

The hotspot map also includes an archive of previous days going back as far as 2000.

NOAA operates a similar map, called the Hazard Mapping System Fire and Smoke Product.

Google Maps

While not as technical as the maps and imagery available from official agencies – Google also offers an estimated overview of where some fires are burning.

The company stresses the estimations “are approximate and provided for informational purposes only.”

Several of Saskatchewan’s major fires are also labelled.

All of the sources listed above maintain that the maps should be used for informational purposes only and should not be used for the protection of people or property.

The SPSA operates a toll-free phone line for those with general questions about the wildfire situation in Saskatchewan.

The line is staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and can be reached by calling 1-855-559-5502.