Latest news with #PelicanNarrows
Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Climate
- Globe and Mail
Saskatchewan issues evacuation order for town of La Ronge as wildfire breaches airport
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says the northern town of La Ronge has ordered an evacuation due to a wildfire that has breached the airport. It says the fire is fast moving and that people in the town, as well as anyone within 20 kilometres, including nearby Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, must leave immediately. The agency says anyone who can self-evacuate and find their own accommodation must use Highway 2 and register at the Days Inn in Prince Albert, about 240 kilometres to the south. Wildfire smoke map: Which parts of Canada are under air quality warnings? Others who need transportation are being directed to the JRMCC Centre in La Ronge. La Ronge has a population of about 2,500. As of Monday, 18 fires were burning in Saskatchewan, with seven of them not contained. Evacuation orders are already in effect for several other northern communities in the province, including Pelican Narrows, East Trout Lake and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Fast-moving winds are making Sask. wildfires difficult to contain: province
Heavy smoke from multiple active forest fires in Saskatchewan can be seen in this photo taken on a highway south of Prince Albert (Courtesy: Nigel Maxwell) Fast-moving winds are making wildfires burning in northern Saskatchewan difficult to contain, provincial officials said on Friday. Wildfires have moved significant distances thanks to windy conditions, according to Steve Roberts from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, who provided an update on the ongoing situation Friday afternoon. Roberts said a fire in the Flin Flon, Man. and Creighton Sask. area that prompted mandatory evacuations this week is now expected to move closer to the communities. According to Roberts, firefighting crews are preparing to put up barriers in both the town of Creighton and city of Flin Flon in the event flames reach the outskirts of the communities. Roberts added that another wildfire is now burning just outside the community of Pelican Narrows. As of Friday, 15 wildfires were burning in Saskatchewan, seven of them are considered not contained, according to the province. More than 8,000 people have now been evacuated, while smoke from the fires has also prompted air quality warnings and statements from Environment and Climate Change Canada. On Thursday Premier Scott Moe declared a province-wide state of emergency as a result of the wildfires. The state of emergency will be in effect for 30 days and can be extended if need be. More to come... With files from The Canadian Press
CTV News
6 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘Everyone's kind of scared': Sask. evacuees move out of wildfire danger and into provincial centres
WATCH: As wildfires rage throughout the province, evacuees are doing their best to find comfort amid chaos. With ten wildfires listed as uncontained in Saskatchewan, residents in affected communities are being forced to leave their homes to stay safe. The City of Saskatoon is jumping in to help with evacuations from communities affected by wildfires. The Cosmo Civic Centre is closed as of Tuesday afternoon to accommodate an influx of evacuees. The Saskatchewan Public Safety agency says 1,700 people have been evacuated from Pelican Narrows – which is in full evacuation mode. Many of those fleeing the fires – coming to Saskatoon. 'Our whole community is surrounded by fire. The fire is only a few kilometers away. So, everyone's kind of scared to lose houses and everything like that because then if, you know, if we lose houses, then we're totally displaced,' Blayne Pearson-McCallum told CTV News. He arrived by bus Monday with his family. 'So, I'm here with my girlfriend and, our kids, and we're currently expecting a baby, too, so it's kind of, kind of throwing more problems into everything,' he said. The Red Cross confirmed to CTV News in an email that the organization is assisting those evacuated from the communities of Hall Lake, Sikachu Lake, Clam Bridge and Pelican Narrows. The Red Cross is providing registration, reception, temporary accommodations and personal services. The temporary accommodations are in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. The Heritage Inn and Saskatoon Inn are currently taking in evacuees. Rebecca Halkett arrived from Hall Lake with about 380 others from that community. 'I could see the smoke, but it's a good thing we came because, you know, yesterday they could see the flames right across the lake. Today the fire's really spread,' Halkett said. She arrived with her two kids, and she worries about their wellbeing. 'I have a son that has autism and is very hard on him being away from home because he's used to his routines so it's kind of hard,' she said. Halkett is happy with the support from the Red Cross. Rides are provided so they can leave the hotel. Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) Vice President Steve Roberts said the decision to evacuate or to send residents back home is left up to local leadership in affected areas. 'That will be through consult consultation of what's happening, with the smoke and with the fire. Their level of protection and assurance that, the community will be a safe place to return to,' Roberts explained. For now, provincial centres are preparing for the influx of residents. How many will seek refuge is unclear as mother nature will ultimately decide.
CBC
7 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
At least 4K people evacuated from their homes due to aggressive wildfires in northern Sask.
Social Sharing At least 4,000 people have evacuated their homes and communities due to aggressive wildfires in northern Saskatchewan. The largest group of evacuees has fled the northern village of Pelican Narrows, about 400 kilometres northeast of Prince Albert, where a wildfire burns dangerously close to the community and threatens road access. Poor Internet connection? CBC Lite is our low-bandwidth website. Cherish Morin, a resident from Pelican Narrows, arrived in Saskatoon early Tuesday morning. She said packing up and leaving her home behind was stressful. "There's lots of people at the gas station gassing up. It was just like a really like, I would say, in the panic. Everyone was in the panic mood," Morin told CBC Tuesday. Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) declared a state of emergency on Tuesday for Pelican Narrows. Chief Peter Beatty told CBC News about 2,000 people had left Pelican Narrows and surrounding communities already and another 2,000 were being told to leave immediately, either by bus or in their own vehicles. Evacuation centres have been set up in Prince Albert, Flin Flon and Saskatoon. Morin said Highway 106 was closed Monday evening, which forced her to take a road near La Ronge, adding extra travel time. "Me and my partner got into Saskatoon around 2 a.m. and then we had to scatter around looking for rooms." Now, in Saskatoon, she is hoping for the best – that her home will go unscathed. "I'm very stressed out about the whole situation. Like, very worried because my grandpa decided to stay back to be security." Candle Lake seeks permission, funding for firebreak as wildfire encroaches 10 hours ago Duration 2:25 As wildfires rapidly advance in Saskatchewan, communities like Candle Lake are growing anxious. Candle Lake officials say they've asked the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) for permission to build a protective firebreak along Highway 120, to protect the resort village, along with Paddockwood. Morin said she's also worried about the other houses in her community and the people, like her grandfather, who have decided to stay and help. "I just hope like they can get the fire under control and then we can go home." Historical wildfire season: SPSA Meanwhile, in the northern community of Hall Lake, more than 380 people left Monday due to another wildfire. "We have not seen a fire season with as much impact and activity in the last couple of decades," said Steve Roberts, vice-president of operations for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), on Tuesday afternoon. Roberts said almost every single fire so far was caused by humans. As of Wednesday morning, there were 17 active wildfires in the province. Ten of those fires were not contained. The Denare Beach area — not far from the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border — has the most un-contained wildfires in the province, with four burning. Leaders in Canoe Lake, about 120 kilometres north of Meadow Lake in northwest Saskatchewan, decided to evacuate after a fire started very close to the community on Monday. About 250 people have been moved to Cold Lake, Alta., and another 250 people to Lloydminster. Two fires that have been burning in the Narrow Hills Provincial Park area — the Camp fire and Shoe fire — have now merged into the largest fire in the province. The huge fire has prompted evacuations at Lower Fishing Lake, Piprell Lake, East Trout Lake, Little Bear Lake, and pre-evacuation alerts for Candle Lake and other smaller communities. The amount of fires this year to date is significantly higher than in 2024, with 205 fires since the beginning of the year. That's up from 165 last year during the same period, according to the SPCA. In a news release issued Tuesday afternoon, the city of Saskatoon said the Cosmo Civic Centre is closed to the public, and is now a designated evacuation site.
CBC
27-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Evacuations ordered for Sask.'s Pelican Narrows, Man.'s Lynn Lake over wildfire risk
Residents living in or near Pelican Narrows, Sask., are being urged to evacuate effective immediately as a wildfire continues to rage near town, threatening road access. Similarly, the town of Lynn Lake, Man., said in a Facebook post that residents and visitors must evacuate due to a rapidly advancing wildfire.
