By Nicole Goldsworthy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SaskToday.ca
June 2, 2026
SHELLBROOK — Residents of the Rural Municipality of Shellbrook are being allowed to return home after local officials rescinded an evacuation order that had been in place due to the Lobstick wildfire.
The RM of Shellbrook announced June 1 that the evacuation order was officially lifted at 4:45 p.m., allowing residents to return to their properties.
Municipal officials cautioned that firefighting operations remain active in some areas and urged returning residents to remain vigilant.
“Please be advised that crews are still working in the area,” the RM said in a notice. “We ask that everyone use caution when travelling and use care upon returning to their properties, as hazards may still be present.”
The municipality also thanked residents for their cooperation and patience throughout the evacuation.
The announcement came as the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) reported continued progress on wildfire suppression efforts across the province.
Since May 25, the SPSA has recorded 30 new wildfire starts. Of those, 20 have been extinguished through ground and air operations. Ten fires remain active and are in various stages of containment, with six measuring less than 10 hectares.
Meanwhile, crews continue making gains on the Lobstick fire burning north of Shellbrook and Leask.
According to the SPSA’s June 1 update, firefighters spent the day hot spotting in the Callaghan Lake division using pumps and hoses, while helicopters provided water-bucketing support. Officials reported minimal fire behaviour and said targets requiring aerial suppression are decreasing daily.
Construction of containment lines also continued. A dozer line extending from Callaghan Lake to the North Saskatchewan River is approximately 65 per cent complete, while crews have begun widening transmission-line corridors through crush clearing operations. Additional dozers are expected to continue that work.
The SPSA said conditions along the perimeter of the RMs of Shellbrook and Leask remain stable.
“The majority of hotspots are contained and pose no risk to communities or homes,” the agency reported.
Further south, the dozer line along the east flank of the Lily Plain area has been completed to the river, while the section extending south toward Macdowell is 95 per cent complete. Fire activity on the west flank in the Wingard pasture area remains minimal, with few or no hotspots detected.
On June 2, crews are expected to conduct infrared aerial scans of the fire perimeter to identify any remaining heat signatures.
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Weather conditions may continue to challenge suppression efforts. Tuesday’s forecast calls for a high of 26 C, relative humidity near 50 per cent, east-southeast winds of 20 to 25 km/h with gusts reaching 40 to 50 km/h, and up to five millimetres of precipitation.
