Higher risk residents from the northern village of La Loche are fleeing their community for the second time in May as a wildfire is moving toward the community.
A state of emergency has been called for the northern village about 510 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. Buses are taking residents south to Regina on Wednesday.
A mandatory evacuation order is in place for priority one and two residents of La Loche. That includes people with cardiac and respiratory conditions, elders, those with mobility needs, children 5 years old and younger, pregnant mothers and those requiring special care.
A voluntary evacuation order is in place for the rest of the community.
Ken Roth, 67, is planning on leaving La Loche for the second time if the fire situation worsens, because he is still experiencing complications from having had COVID-19.
He left the community for about a week earlier this month due to heavy smoke.
“The evacuation part is really hard, they’re sending people on a eight-hour ride to Regina from La Loche, that’s a long way for elderly people or people with small children,” Roth said.
“But I guess it’s better than sniffing the heavy smoke in the community and waiting for the fire to come toward you.”
Roth said he’s worried about the thick grey smoke.
“If you go outside you know right away it’s a strong smoke and there’s ashes falling pretty well everywhere,” Roth said.
He added that it’s hard to live in a hotel for extended periods of time, and he’s also worried about the air quality in more southern parts of the province.
Environment Canada has special air quality statements in effect for all of northern Saskatchewan and some parts of central Saskatchewan, including Prince Albert.
As of Wednesday at 1:00 p.m CST, there were 20 active fires burning in the province, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency. The agency said only one of those fires was contained.
Higher risk residents from the northern village of La Loche are fleeing their community for the second time in May as a wildfire is moving toward the community.
Fire behavior is unpredictable
Georgina Jolibois, La Loche’s mayor, says she’s worried about the current state of the wildfire, which was about nine kilometers north of the community on Tuesday.
“Since yesterday the fire size has grown, the weather is really hot, and with the hot and dry weather anything’s possible,” Jolibois said on Tuesday. “The fire behavior is unpredictable.”
It is advised that residents stay inside if possible and to be aware of the effects wildfires smoke can have on their health. Air scrubbers are set to be installed at the La Loche community hall to allow community members to get clean air.
The nearby Clearwater River Dene Nation is also asking all priority one and two individuals to leave the community.
Buses arrived at the First Nation shortly after midnight on Wednesday to transport residents out of the community.
Fires can turn quite quickly
The Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) will be assisting both communities with its evacuation efforts.
Darryl Wright, the tribal council’s emergency response plan co-ordinator, says this year’s fire season has been unprecedented. He noted that the MLTC had been supporting many evacuees since the beginning of May because the fire season started early.
“We thought that the find had kind of burned itself into slower material and things were improving, fire risk was reduced so lots of community members went back to the community,” Wright said on Wednesday. “Then two days later fires flared back up. Every community in MLTC north of Beauval has some people evacuated.”
Wright said at peak evacuation times there were about 1300 people away from home, but there are now about 750 evacuees and several communities are on standby to evacuate
“That’s the challenge with fire, things look positive but they can turn quite quickly, ” Wright said.
Wright hopes the forecasted rain over the weekend will help the fire situation in northwestern Saskatchewan.
“We’ve seen that rain is coming and people are thinking optimistically, that means there should be some improvement,” Wright said. “But with us sending everyone home, then turning around and evacuating again, it definitely leaves some skepticism in people’s minds.”
Hundreds of evacuees across the province
On Tuesday, the Buffalo River Dene Nation was re-evacuating approx. 150 priority one and two residents due to the wildfire and smoke in the surrounding area according to a Indigenous Services Canada news release.
A wildfire and heavy smoke has also prompted leadership from the nearby Birch Narrows Dene Nation to evacuate 160 priority one and two individuals. Higher risk evacuees from English River First Nation remain evacuated as heavy smoke continues to impact their community.
No decision has been made on repatriation efforts for priority one and two members from the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation as of Tuesday at noon. A wildfire burning south of Deschambault lake has forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes.
Saskatoon’s Fire Chief Morgan Hackl says there are about 700 wildfire evacuees at 7 different hotels in the city.
“At this time we have no indication of when people will return to their homes,” Hackl said.