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Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Globe and Mail
Half of Saskatchewan residents who were forced to flee wildfires can return home this week
Nearly half of the people forced from their homes by wildfires in Saskatchewan will be allowed to return later this week with conditions slightly improving in the province, but thousands remain displaced across large parts of Canada. Premier Scott Moe said around 7,000 people in the north-central Saskatchewan region around Lac La Ronge will see evacuation orders lifted Thursday. Still, he cautioned, his government is maintaining a provincewide state of emergency until further notice. 'Fortunately, we are in a little bit better situation with some weather changes,' Mr. Moe told reporters in Saskatoon. 'But there's numerous communities in the province that will continue to be evacuated.' More than 225 wildfires are active across the country, at least 100 of which were deemed out of control as of late Wednesday. Over the past month, Manitoba and Saskatchewan have borne the brunt of this year's early and active wildfire season, while dozens of other fires have also spread in northwestern Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. About 15,000 people have been displaced from various parts of Saskatchewan since late May. Most of the evacuees came from the area known locally as the Tri-Community, a 20-kilometre radius around the town of La Ronge that also includes the nearby village of Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. It is a central hub that connects the province's far north with its more populous southern half through a major highway. Many structures in La Ronge have been burned by the large fire, which last week had grown to over 150,000 hectares before recent rainfall helped firefighters make progress. Multiple local businesses, bridges and houses, plus hundreds of Indigenous artifacts at the beloved Robertson Trading Post, have been destroyed. On Wednesday, Mr. Moe said returning to the community will not be easy, noting that power outages will be an issue because of the damage. Schools, playgrounds, hospitals, grocery stores and other essential infrastructure are also affected. But the Premier added that officials are trying to ensure a smooth transition. He announced a $500 emergency payment for every evacuee over the age of 18 in Saskatchewan, promising more support in the coming days – such as through shuttle busses and fuel. On top of that, Saskatchewan – which unlike Manitoba and Ontario had not required help from the Canadian Armed Forces – is now calling the military to assist with recovery and rebuilding efforts. 'There are still a lot of moving pieces,' Mr. Moe said. 'Our focus is to ensure that families and children have the support they require to recover from what has been a tremendously fast-moving and challenging time.' With at least 23 active wildfires in Saskatchewan, Mr. Moe emphasized that much-needed precipitation comes with the future risk of lightning-caused fires. In Ontario, military planes finished the majority of airlifting on Wednesday for nearly 3,000 people from Sandy Lake First Nation, a remote community around 450 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. In neighbouring Manitoba, which is also under a state of emergency, at least 21,000 people continue to be displaced. The province is facing 25 wildfires, with conditions in affected areas either worsening or remaining the same. More than 105 additional firefighters are arriving this week in Manitoba from the United States, according to Idaho's National Interagency Fire Center. The new crews include those usually assigned to the most challenging fires. Alberta is receiving 96 firefighters from Australia, as it contends with at least 60 wildfires – though most of them are smaller and evacuation orders have been lifted in some communities. And now, Canada has been promised more help from South Africa. Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed firefighting on Wednesday with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in a phone call. 'South Africa will continue to work with Canada on the prevention and management of wildfires,' Mr. Ramaphosa said in a statement after the call. Trevor Abrahams, managing director of Working on Fire, South Africa's largest wildland firefighting team, told The Globe and Mail his personnel are just waiting for the signal to board a flight to Canada, with entry visas already in their passports. 'It's imminent,' he said in an interview. Meanwhile, in B.C., where the District of Squamish has declared a localized state of emergency because of a wildfire, officials said Wednesday that the blaze has grown more than 20 hectares in size. Burning trees fell near properties, with the fire coming within 40 metres of some homes. BC Wildfire Service officer Marc Simpson said around 200 properties have been evacuated near Squamish, though added that conditions are improving. 'We're in a better place today,' he told reporters. At least 94 fires remained active in other parts of the province, mostly in the northeast region. With reports from Geoffrey York in Johannesburg and Andrea Woo in Vancouver
CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
Northern Sask. mayor calls province's wildfire evacuation response 'disgusting'
Social Sharing One week after residents of Air Ronge left the northern Saskatchewan community, fleeing wildfires and adhering to mandatory evacuation orders, the mayor says many of them still don't have a place to sleep. Air Ronge Mayor Julie Baschuk said some residents are messaging her saying they're hungry and don't have enough money for food. Others are sick and don't know where to go for help. "It is Monday, June 9, and our residents have been given the run-around," Baschuk said. "They're being turned away and they're being told there is nothing they can be helped with. We are talking thousands of displaced people from our communities up here in the Lac La Ronge region. "It's disgusting to see how our people are being treated." The situation prompted Baschuk to write a letter to Premier Scott Moe, demanding that the province provide a clear and consistent plan for evacuees. She has also compiled a list of evacuees who have messaged saying they haven't received emergency services to pass along to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA). That list is now several pages long. "They tried to find some sort of support and relief and are getting nothing. We have people sleeping in vehicles for the past week, sleeping in backyards and tents." WATCH | Family behind La Ronge's Robertson Trading nearly loses cabin to wildfire, too: Family behind La Ronge's Robertson Trading nearly loses cabin to wildfire, too 1 hour ago Duration 1:37 The family behind Robertson Trading say they were overcome with emotions when the iconic general store was lost to a wildfire in La Ronge, Sask., last week. But they didn't have much time to sit with their feelings. Owner Scott Robertson said they were occupied trying to save their family cabin that nearly burned down, too. Many are paying out-of-pocket for food and a place to stay. "We've set up people to basically fall into the depths of poverty the way that this is going," said Baschuk. Baschuk said she's had "multiple" calls and meetings with the SPSA, which is co-ordinating the emergency response. She said the SPSA and Moe are well aware many evacuees aren't getting access to food, clothing and shelter. "People are scattered everywhere." WATCH | Sask. restaurant feeds those fighting wildfires: Sask. restaurant feeds those fighting wildfires 6 hours ago Duration 2:19 Baschuk said the problems stem from confusion about who is running the emergency response, and whether there are different services for people living on reserve or off reserve. "We're being told a mish-mash of messaging from both lead agencies," she said, referring to the SPSA and the Red Cross. "We ourselves as leaders are getting the run-around, quite frankly. And if we ourselves don't have that proper information … how do we expect our residents to figure this system out?" More than 10,000 evacuees are being supported by the Red Cross and 860 are being supported by the SPSA. "I would say no evacuees should be turned away from supports that they need," said Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan's public safety minister, in an update on Monday. "Anytime you're looking at an emergency like this, there's going to be a lot of communication that needs to happen, and everybody's doing their level best to make sure that people are directed where they should be directed and get the resources that they need." Kim MacLean, senior director for response operations for the Red Cross, said in a previous interview that she's heard people are getting moved to different evacuation locations, depending on if they are on-reserve or off-reserve. MacLean said the Red Cross was called in to assist First Nations and is providing a framework of emergency services, including securing hotel rooms and evacuation beds, but is not running the emergency response. Some evacuees allowed back to Pelican Narrows While thousands of northern residents are still living in hotel rooms and evacuation centres across the province, some are being allowed to return home. On Sunday, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) issued an advisory allowing healthy adults to return to Pelican Narrows. The PBCN declared a state of emergency and issued a mandatory evacuation notice for Pelican Narrows on May 27, as the Pelican 2 wildfire grew dangerously close to the community. The PBCN has arranged for buses to pick up evacuees from Saskatoon hotels Monday and Tuesday, but leadership said not all residents should return. Elizabeth Michel, a PBCN band councillor, said the following people should delay their return to Pelican Narrows: Parents with children under five. Pregnant mothers. People with respiratory or cardiac conditions. Home-care clients and elders. Anyone with health issues. For those who do return, it will be a while before things return to normal. "There is a checkpoint and security measures they all have to follow," Michel said. She said anyone returning is asked to take a two-week supply of medication and understand there will be limited medical services. There's also a boil-water advisory in effect. SaskTel said Monday that it had repaired the majority of damage done to its infrastructure by the wildfires. It said all SaskTel services in northern Saskatchewan were back up as of 10 a.m. CST Monday. McLeod said the province is "optimistic" that more communities will be able to return in the days ahead. "We're now turning a corner," McLeod said. As of Monday afternoon, 33 communities remained on evacuation orders. Weyakwin and Pelican Narrows were the only communities that have had their evacuation orders lifted. As 25 wildfires continue to burn in the province, McLeod said he has been in "daily contact" with both the federal minister of public safety and the federal minister of emergency management on how to align the needs of the province with the resources available. "This isn't a situation where we're not asking for assistance or they're not offering assistance. It's simply a situation where we need the needs that we have to align with what they're offering," he said. The province has asked for the federal government to provide two base camps to support working crews as they go back into communities that are rebuilding and assist in clean-up, McLeod said. Tents for sheltering up to 200 people have also been requested.
CBC
29-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Wildfires spur 3 First Nations in Sask. to declare joint state of local emergency
Out-of-control wildfires in northern Saskatchewan have prompted three First Nations to declare a joint state of local emergency: the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and Montreal Lake Cree Nation.
CBC
29-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
First Nations plead for help as wildfires devastate northern Sask.
Social Sharing People with property in northeast Saskatchewan as well as the Official Opposition, are calling on the government to declare a provincial state of emergency amid a rapidly escalating, early wildfire season. On Wednesday, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and Montreal Lake Cree Nation declared a joint state of emergency. In light of the severity of the wildfire situation, First Nations leaders said in a press release that they have "deep concerns" over critical shortages in firefighting resources, personnel and air support. The declaration demands direct meetings with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, federal ministers, and members of Parliament. "We are urgently calling on Premier Scott Moe and Prime Minister Mark Carney to deploy more firefighting personnel, increase air support — including water bombers — and ensure emergency accommodations for evacuees," said Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte of the Prince Albert Grand Council. Thousands evacuated as wildfires burn across Sask. 11 hours ago Duration 1:57 The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says this is one of the worst wildfire seasons in decades and that most of the fires are human-caused. As of Wednesday, there were nearly 20 active wildfires across the province. Chief Peter A. Beatty of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation said in the press release that many First Nations communities are becoming boxed in due to road closures and limited evacuation routes. "We are doing everything possible on the ground, but this situation is beyond our capacity to manage alone," said Beatty. Late on Wednesday, the community of Weyakwin, on Highway 2 west of Montreal Lake, issued an evacuation order. East Trout Lake suffers substantial loss Nathan Pitka is one of many who wants a provincial state of emergency declared. Two fires that have been burning in the Narrow Hills Provincial Park area — the Camp fire and Shoe fire — have merged into the largest fire in the province. That fire prompted an evacuation order in the Resort Subdivision of East Trout Lake, where his cottage is located. On Wednesday, East Trout Lake, located approximately 160 kilometres southeast of La Ronge, declared a state of emergency. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said East Trout Lake has received "substantial loss." Pitka fled to stay with his parents in Saskatoon on Monday. He told CBC he believes his cabin burned down, but does not yet have confirmation. His family has been going there for 48 years. Pitka wrote a letter to Moe, who has yet to publicly speak on the wildfire crisis, asking for more communication and for help to be brought in. "I wrote the letter because no one else was saying what urgently needed to be to be said. I mean, we're watching communities burn in real time," Pitka said. "It felt like the rest of the province didn't even know this was happening. So I just thought I needed to say something." At last count, the Shoe fire covered 216,000 hectares. When Whiteswan Lake, 130 kilometres northeast of Prince Albert, was evacuated on Monday, Walter Halliday decided to stay behind. The operational manager of Whiteswan Lake Lodge said there's little information available to those from the community about what is happening and what is being done to get the wildfires under control. As of midnight on Wednesday, there were 19 active wildfires burning in Saskatchewan, nine of which are not contained. According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, the province has made requests for crews, equipment and more aircraft. There is already a water bomber from Alaska and two from Quebec working in the province. Opposition Leader, northern MLAs call for provincial action On Wednesday, in response to the wildfires in his province, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew ordered a state of emergency and received assurances of emergency military aid from Ottawa. In a release that evening, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck, Athabasca MLA Leroy Laliberte and Cumberland MLA Jordan McPhail said Moe and his government must do the same. They also called for the province to commit to daily public briefings. These, they said, are to ensure "all essential — potentially lifesaving — information reaches people impacted by this wildfire crisis in Saskatchewan's North."
