Auditor to investigate Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s wildfire preparedness

REGINA – Saskatchewan’s auditor says she plans to look into the preparedness of province’s public safety agency responsible for fighting wildfires. 

Tara Clemett’s office says in a statement that the performance audit of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is expected to be released next year. 

The audit comes after Denare Beach residents accused the agency of being ill prepared to save their community from devastation. 

A wildfire near the northern Saskatchewan village burned down about half the community in June. 

Clemett’s office is also looking into the province’s purchase of new water bombers amid allegations Premier Scott Moe’s government vastly overpaid for them.

The province has said it’s doing a third-party review into the wildfire response, but has declined calls by residents to conduct a public inquiry.