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Saskatchewan wildfire triggers state of emergency, evacuation of hospital

BIGGAR, Sask. — Saskatchewan’s fire commissioner is urging people across the province not to have open fires as a wildfire near the town of Biggar sparked a state of emergency and some evacuations.
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BIGGAR, Sask. — Saskatchewan’s fire commissioner is urging people across the province not to have open fires as a wildfire near the town of Biggar sparked a state of emergency and some evacuations.

Duane McKay said crews are assessing what impact a change in wind directions might have on the grass fire but that smoke has been moving away from the community about 90 kilometres west of Saskatoon.

Dozens of patients were moved Tuesday out of the Biggar hospital because of smoke.

Authorities transferred 53 long-term care residents to the health centre in Rosetown. Another eight patients were sent to City Hospital in Saskatoon.

McKay said those battling the fire, including farmers, were also trying to move cattle away from pastureland threatened by the 15-square-kilometre blaze.

No injuries or burned buildings were reported.