UPDATE as of 4:15 p.m. Friday, April 26, 2019
Sask Health Authority can confirm that clearance was given Thursday by fire officials for evacuated patients and long-term care residents to return to the Biggar and District Health Centre.
Once that clearance was received, we began finalizing and enacting our plan to transport all patients and long-term care residents back to their home community. This repatriation planning effort was aided through the cooperation and assistance of our partners such as the City of Saskatoon, Medavie Health Services West, First Group, Town of Biggar and Town of Rosetown who provided the specialized transportation required to bring everyone home safely and comfortably. We are so thankful for their help and support.
All long-term care residents and acute care patients have been returned home. We would like to thank our patients and residents, as well as their families, for their patience and understanding during this time as we worked to keep everyone in our care safe.
We also would like to thank the firefighters in the Biggar area, as well as police, emergency responders, volunteers and others in the Town of Biggar for their tireless work in containing the fire and keeping our community safe.
We will continue to work with our partners and keep a close eye on air quality, including satellite smoke forecasting and smoke progression in Biggar and surrounding areas.
Currently, air quality in Biggar and area is good, however if you have concerns or experience any respiratory symptoms or irritation to eyes, nose and throat, please discuss them with your medical practitioner or contact HealthLine at 811. In an emergency situation, please call 911 or present to the nearest emergency department.
All the latest emergency alerts for the province can be found here.
UPDATE as of 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 25, 2019
Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) continues to work very closely with our emergency partners, including the Health Emergency Management Unit, Saskatchewan Public Safety Division, as well as the local fire department, our Ministry partners, Environment Canada and others, as fire crews battle the wildfire burning near the Town of Biggar.
We are keeping a close eye as air quality and fire conditions are monitored, as well as satellite smoke forecasting and smoke progression.
For those who remain in the community of Biggar, we have also been monitoring for any effects from smoke, but have had no major issues so far. Currently the air quality in the Town of Biggar is good.
It is also important to reiterate the Emergency Department at the Biggar and District Health Centre remains open during this time. In case of emergency, please call 911 or present to the nearest emergency department. Health related questions can also be directed to HealthLine 811.
The patients and long term care residents who were evacuated from the Biggar and District Health Centre continue to be cared for in Rosetown and Saskatoon. We will continue to assess the situation, alongside our partners, to determine when patients and residents can return to the Biggar and District Health Centre, with safety being our number one priority.
UPDATE As of 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Crews are still battling the fire in Biggar, so the patients and residents that were evacuated early this morning will remain in Rosetown and Saskatoon overnight.
According to Environment Canada, there are currently no air quality concerns in Biggar.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority thanks all our staff, physicians and volunteers for doing everything possible to ensure the safety and comfort of our patients and residents. We also thank all our patients and families, as well as the community of Biggar, for their patience and cooperation.
UPDATE: As of 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2019
The Saskatchewan Health Authority can confirm that due to a major grass fire burning near the Town of Biggar, a precautionary evacuation is called for the Biggar and District Health Centre. This centre includes an acute care hospital and a long term care facility. PLEASE NOTE: The Emergency Department at the Biggar and District Health Centre remains open. In case of emergency, please call 911 or present to the nearest emergency department. Health related questions can also be directed to Healthline 811.
Eight acute care patients and 53 long term care residents were safely transported to alternate beds in the Rosetown and District Health Centre and Saskatoon City Hospital. The family members of each patient are being contacted directly so that they can keep in contact with their loved one. Health care providers from the Biggar healthcare centre have accompanied the evacuated patients to Saskatoon City Hospital.
Residents of Biggar and area - the departments of Public Health , Homecare, Therapies and Mental Health remain open and patient appointments are going ahead as scheduled. Laboratory and X-ray services remain open.
For those who have family members who have been transported to Saskatoon City Hospital, you can get in touch with them by calling switchboard at 306-655-8000.
For those who have family members who have been transported to Rosetown and District Health Centre, you can contact them by calling the main line at 306-882-1212.
Please watch this site for further updates.
For updates on the major grass fire situation in Biggar and surrounding area, please go to the
Sask Alerts page.