The 2025 wildfire season was a wake-up call for the province. By the end of the year, the SPSA confirmed that over 600 fires had burned through roughly 1.5 million hectares. This level of activity has fundamentally changed how we look at fire protection.

As we move through February 2026, the province is using this winter window to prepare for the possibility of another dry spring and an early start to the next fire cycle.

This shift in strategy explains why some areas, like East Trout Lake, saw such “substantial loss” last year. When fires reach a certain intensity, crews often cannot safely get in front of the flames to save every individual structure. Instead, they focus on steering the fire away from entire towns or essential power and water systems.

With 2025 officially being one of the most expensive years for natural disasters in Saskatchewan, it is clear that the “new normal” involves larger, more aggressive fires.

Understanding this change in how fires are fought helps highlight why we talk so much about FireSmart strategies. Since you can’t always count on a fire being “put out” before it reaches your area, taking steps to make your property less flammable is your best line of defence.

If you live in an area where wildfires are a threat, you need to know exactly what your policy covers. The good news is that most home and business insurance policies cover fire damage, including wildfires. Just remember: stay away from your property until local officials officially say it is safe to go back.

What is Covered?

Standard insurance for your main home or your seasonal cabin usually covers fire damage. This doesn’t just apply to the house itself; it typically includes other buildings on your property and your personal belongings inside them.

Know Your Limits

Take a quick look at your policy limits to make sure they cover the actual cost to rebuild your home and replace everything in it. If you are forced to leave because of a mandatory evacuation, ask about Mass Evacuation coverage. This is a huge help because it pays for things like hotels, food, and gas while you’re displaced.

What Isn’t Covered?

Every policy has things it won’t cover; these are called exclusions. For example, some policies won’t pay for damage caused by the ground moving, like a landslide or mudslide that happens after a fire. Knowing these details now can prevent a lot of stress later.

To make the claims process go as smoothly as possible, you need to keep good records. This documentation is the proof your insurance company needs to make sure you get a fair payout for everything you’ve lost.

Don’t panic if you don’t have a perfect record of everything. Insurance companies know that documents get lost in fires. Your adjuster will give you the forms you need. The goal is just to provide as much info as you can to help them settle your claim fairly.

Talk to Your Broker

The first thing you should do when you’re ready to file a claim is call your insurance broker. Most companies have 24-hour claims lines, so you can get the ball rolling right away.

When you call, give them as much detail as you can about what happened. If you can’t live in your home right now, ask about “Additional Living Expenses” (ALE). This part of your policy helps pay for things like temporary housing or even laundry costs if your rental doesn’t have a washer and dryer.

Resources from FireSmart™ Canada

If you haven’t yet, check out FireSmart Canada. They have great programs designed to help neighbourhoods become more resilient to wildfires.

• They offer a free one-hour course called FireSmart 101 that’s full of practical tips for protecting your home.

What are the best ways to:

1. Lower your wildfire risk?

You can make a big difference by clearing away flammable plants near your house, thinning out tree branches so fire can’t jump between them, and getting rid of any dead wood or piles of leaves.

According to experts at Canadian Underwriter, the most effective thing you can do is focus on the first 1.5 meters (5 feet) directly around your home. Most houses aren’t actually lost to a massive wall of flames, they are destroyed by flying embers that land on something flammable right next to the house.

By keeping this “non-combustible zone” clear of mulch, dead leaves, and woody plants, you significantly increase the chances of your home surviving a fire.

2. Preparing for a possible evacuation?