'Anguish is eating me up': Roaring fires, helping hands in northeast Saskatchewan
'I worry about my neighbours,' she said. 'My dad is 85 and in the care home. I worry about everyone in there.'
Strickland's job keeps her in touch with many in the area. Residents of Little Bear Lake, Pickerel Lake and Lower Fishing Lake get their mail in Smeaton.
'I'm afraid people will lose their homes,' she said. 'But we are supporting each other, coming together. At the lakes, people are really pulling together. Business owners and farmers in the area are taking their own equipment out to help.'
Strickland and others in Smeaton and Choiceland said the fires started suddenly in early May and were driven by 70 km/hr winds. Little could be done to prevent them. It took time to mobilize firefighting efforts, but it now appears that more resources are being amassed to attack the SHOE fire.
Cheri Kosowan, owner of Torch River Tavern in Choiceland with her husband, Doug, said the town's highly dedicated fire crew is among those fighting the blaze. She added that SPSA is in the process of setting up a camp for fire personnel at the sports grounds on the town's southeast corner. A drive by the location shows it to be in the early stages of set-up.
A number of people in Choiceland and Smeaton, some with grey hair, said they have never seen the fire season as destructive as it here in 2025.
'The fires are huge,' said a Choiceland resident who did not want to be named. 'It's getting hotter and hotter. It's like Earth is regenerating itself.'
The economic impact to the region is disastrous, Roberta Strickland indicated. 'The tourist industry is basically a write-off.'
In this region of Saskatchewan, where agricultural lands meet the boreal forest, the bush — its lakes, streams, campsites, trails, fish and game — is woven into the life of communities. The forest and all it provides in recreation, employment, food and fun, is fundamental to the culture and lifestyle of thousands living here.
People in First Nations, on farms, in villages and towns, have a deep attachment to the forest lands that are now going up in smoke. The destruction of the heart and soul of the region by fire is devastating. It shows on the faces of those who depend on it for their well-being.
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Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Vancouver Sun
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High winds coupled with a warm, dry spring are fuelling a wave of forest fires across western Canada and parts of Ontario. More than 200 fires were reported across the country as of Tuesday morning, half of which are labelled out of control. Wildfires have already burned close to 2.2 million hectares this year, equivalent to the size of about 4 million football fields. At about seven times its ten-year average, the burn area is unusually large for this time of year. Communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are shrouded in smoke and air quality alerts have been issued across the provinces and bordering U.S. states. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. With summer still weeks away, this year's fire season is running far ahead of schedule. Here's what you should know. The worst blazes have occurred in the prairie provinces and has led Saskatchewan and Manitoba to declare province-wide emergencies in late May. Saskatchewan The Shoe fire in Saskatchewan's Narrow Hills Provincial Park has scorched 408,000 hectares as of Monday, roughly 18 times the size of the city of Saskatoon, and is threatening 11 communities. To the north, a 83,000 hectare fire in La Ronge, Sask, forced several neighbouring communities to evacuate. On Monday , the fire had crossed into the town's airport. The evacuation also included 45 acute and long-term care patients from the care homes and a health centre in La Rouge, the Saskatchewan Health Authority said. In total, more than 8,000 people, or about 30 communities, have been ordered to evacuate so far. There are 18 fires across the province, around half of which are uncontained. 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At severe levels, the use of an air conditioner is not recommended. Instead, it is advised to check local governments for nearby cooling locations. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
National Post
a day ago
- National Post
What we know about the wildfires burning in Canada and sending smoke to the U.S. and U.K.
High winds coupled with a warm, dry spring are fuelling a wave of forest fires across western Canada and parts of Ontario. Article content More than 200 fires were reported across the country as of Tuesday morning, half of which are labelled out of control. Article content Wildfires have already burned close to 2.2 million hectares this year, equivalent to the size of about 4 million football fields. At about seven times its ten-year average, the burn area is unusually large for this time of year. Article content Article content The Shoe fire in Saskatchewan's Narrow Hills Provincial Park has scorched 408,000 hectares as of Monday, roughly 18 times the size of the city of Saskatoon, and is threatening 11 communities. Article content To the north, a 83,000 hectare fire in La Ronge, Sask, forced several neighbouring communities to evacuate. On Monday , the fire had crossed into the town's airport. Article content Article content The evacuation also included 45 acute and long-term care patients from the care homes and a health centre in La Rouge, the Saskatchewan Health Authority said. Article content Article content In Manitoba, more than 17,000 residents, including 5,000 people from Flin Flon, a mining city located near the Saskatchewan border, were forced to evacuate from their homes. The smoke has been too thick for water bombers to reach, leaving firefighters struggling to contain the blazes. Article content Multiple fires beset the First Nations communities of Pimicikamak Cree Nation and Pukatawagan, prompting the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to make an urgent plea for emergency response on May 30.
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