Wildfires across Manitoba and Saskatchewan this spring and summer have caused close to $300 million in insured damage, according to new estimates from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ).
The Flin Flon Wildfire Complex, which merged multiple out-of-control blazes from north of Snow Lake in Manitoba to Pelican Narrows in Saskatchewan, accounted for the majority of the damage. The fire forced nearly 40,000 people from their homes and destroyed hundreds of houses, vehicles, and other structures, leading to insured losses of $249 million. Denare Beach, Saskatchewan, was among the hardest-hit communities.
The Pisew wildfire in June caused further losses of more than $50 million, affecting La Ronge, Hall Lake, Air Ronge, and several nearby communities.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) said insurers are working to support policyholders as they begin the recovery process. The bureau also noted that the rising number and severity of wildfires is contributing to higher claims costs, which are putting pressure on property insurance premiums across Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
So far this year, the two provinces have recorded 780 wildfires, burning nearly five million hectares. Prolonged dry and warm conditions created volatile fire risks, a trend that experts expect to intensify with climate change.
For insurers, the nearly $300 million in insured losses underscores both the escalating cost of extreme weather events and the need for stronger resilience measures. The IBC has emphasized that building codes must be updated to reflect heightened weather risks, communities should have wildfire preparedness plans in place, and governments should create incentives for property owners to retrofit homes and businesses to make them more resilient. Nature-based strategies, such as controlled burns and fire-smart forestry, were also highlighted as essential tools for reducing wildfire risk.
The industry has also pointed out that without greater investment in resilience, the cost of disasters such as the Flin Flon and Pisew wildfires will continue to rise, adding further strain on insurance affordability and availability.
Insurers maintain that coordinated action from governments and the private sector is critical to ensure communities can recover quickly and withstand future catastrophes.
