Sask. premier says talks ongoing on relief funds for wildfire damage

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says more details may comenext week about compensationfor producers whose land and livestock weredamaged by wildfires last month.

Powerful winds spread wildfires near the southwestern communities of Burstall, Leader and Tompkins on Oct. 17, killing about 750 cattle.

Saskatchewan NDP agriculture critic Carla Beck said thousands of acres of pasture land was also damaged.

• $200K raised for ranchers caught in Sask. wildfires
• 'That's what we do:' Father, son in hosptial after fighting in Tompkins, Sask.

She said producers are now concerned about what relief funds if any are available to them, citing worries they won't be able to access the province's disaster assistance program.

"Losing all of the bales, feed for the winter, at a time whenwe've already got snow on the ground,has created a lot of uncertainty," she told reporters Thursday.

"We're asking the minister to work quickly to provide assurances to these producers that there will be provincial funds available for them."

• 'Looks like a bomb went off:' Sask. farmer loses home to wildfire

Wall said inquiries are being made to see what compensation is possible through theprovince's disaster assistance program, which is shared with the federal government.

'Loss was very significant'

He told reporters he will have more to say about help early next week.

"The loss was very significant in terms of not just cattle, but you think fences and some buildings," said Wall.

"We want to find a way to responsibly help those folks."

In the meantime, both Wall and Crown Investments Minister Joe Hargrave cited some smaller relief efforts that have been available.

For example, Hargrave said that the fee forhauling hay is being waived for farmers in the affected areas.