The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency was not ready for last year's wildfires and is not ready for the 2026 fire season, the provincial auditor found.

The key to a good wildfire response is having the right tools at the right time, said Tara Clemett, Saskatchewan's auditor.

The SPSA has all the necessary pieces for a good wildfire response, but they are not working together.

The auditor made 11 recommendations for the agency, including being prepared and planning ahead of fire season.

Without good planning, the agency will not have enough resources, which will increase costs, said Clemett.

The agency needs to look at its funding model and finances, including its use of contractors.

Contracted personnel cost two to five times more than agency firefighters, said the auditor.

A strong budget is necessary for an agency with expensive resources.

The agency's budget for wildfire response was more than $70 million short in each of the past three years.

Better preparation and cost management will help use taxpayer dollars effectively for fire management.

The agency needs to determine what resources are needed at the start and include them in its budget request.

The SPSA is making costly decisions during urgent situations, but forecasting what tools are needed will save money.

The SPSA heard similar concerns earlier this month in the MNP report, which found the province was not prepared for the 2025 wildfire season.

Steve Roberts, vice-president of operations at the SPSA, is retiring early after the MNP report.

Get the facts straight.

Add Global News as a preferred source on Google to see more stories.

Get the day's top news stories from Canada and around the world by email.

Stay updated with the day's top news stories from Canada and the world by email.