The province announced this afternoon that provincial command has been activated through Saskatchewan Public Safety’s Provincial Emergency Operations Centre to assist in response to wildfire across northern Saskatchewan.

According to the province, there are currently 28 active wildfires burning in the province and there have been 169 wildfires so far this year, which is double the amount normally seen.

“The activation of the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre has been established to provide a central point to co-ordinate the operational response of provincial government ministries, agencies and Crown corporations,” Correction, Policing and Public Safety Minister Christine Tell said in a media release.

The centre is led by representatives from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.

The province said representatives will provide daily technical briefings to the media as the situation continues to evolve.