Latest news with #SPSA
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Some Sask. evacuees forced to find far-flung rooms on their own as wildfires put pressure on hotels
Maureen and Greg McBratney didn't have many options for places to stay when wildfire forced them to leave their home in Denare Beach, Sask., late last week. Maureen, 65, has kidney failure and usually receives dialysis three times a week across the border in Flin Flon, Man., but that city has also been evacuated due to an out-of-control fire very close to the community. A dialysis co-ordinator told Maureen to go to Yorkton to continue her treatment, but the retired couple is on a fixed income and struggled to find an affordable hotel. "We're staying at a hotel right now because we don't know anyone in Yorkton," Greg said. "We've tried to contact Red Cross and our house insurance [to pay for a hotel]." They're worried about where they'll go next. "We have nowhere to go after Friday. We're getting kicked out of the hotel because they're fully booked," Greg said. The couple doesn't expect to go home any time soon. Maureen cries when she thinks about the financial and emotional strain. "If you know anyone in Yorkton who wants to put up with a couple of old people for awhile, let us know." The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) and other organizations are searching far and wide to identify any hotel space that could accept evacuees, SPSA vice-president of operations Steve Roberts said. "Anywhere from Prince Albert to Weyburn and from North Battleford to Hudson Bay," Roberts said during the SPSA daily wildfire update. "Basically, we're canvassing every community in Saskatchewan for their capacity and as evacuees come out, they will be directed to areas where they can be housed until they can return home." On Monday, a group of evacuees from Denare Beach and Creighton who ended up in Saskatoon held a protest in the city, demanding more resources to fight fires and help evacuees. They hoped to get the attention of Prime Minister Mark Carney and the premiers while they're in Saskatoon for the first ministers' meeting. There were about 8,000 evacuees from Saskatchewan communities as of Monday afternoon, according to the SPSA. Where evacuees end up depends on where they come from. The SPSA manages some, as does the Canadian Red Cross, while some First Nations also manage accommodations for evacuees from their communities. Added pressure comes when evacuee stays push into reservations made by sports teams or other large groups, leaving hotels a choice between kicking out evacuees or reneging on reservations. It's up to hotel management to decide who gets bumped, according to tourism trade group Hospitality Saskatchewan. "In both cases, you're dealing with folks that are displaced for whatever reason, whether it's an evacuation or a family that's traveled 100 miles to get to a ball tournament and they don't have a place to stay," said Jim Bence, Hospitality Saskatchewan president and CEO. "It's a real ethical dilemma in many cases. And it's one that, whether you're a front desk agent or a hotel manager, it's a struggle to make those decisions." WATCH | Finding accommodations yet another hurdle for wildfire evacuees: Bence said the province should create a central reservation system to manage hotel inventory during emergency situations. "The technology already exists," Bence said. "It's just how could we adapt it or enhance it so that governments or the Red Cross would be able to at a moment's notice be able to see, OK, I've got 10 rooms available in Warman. I've got 30 rooms available in Saskatoon.… If we could access everybody's inventory in real time, then you could make those decisions."
Calgary Herald
7 hours ago
- Climate
- Calgary Herald
Four communities around La Ronge, Sask., receive wildfire evacuation orders
Article content Residents of multiple communities in the La Ronge area have been given mandatory evacuation orders after an uncontained wildfire moved closer over the weekend and into Monday. Article content An update from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) at 6 p.m. Monday said all communities within a 20-kilometre radius of La Ronge are required to evacuate, noting that the fire had already 'breached' the nearby airport. Article content Article content La Ronge — about 240 kilometres north of Prince Albert — is billed as the largest town in northern Saskatchewan with a population of about 2,500. Article content Article content As of Monday, over 8,000 people were displaced and 163 structures (including cabins) had been lost to fire. Article content Sucker River, Wadin Bay, English Bay and Nemeiben received the area's first evacuation orders on Monday morning, followed later in the day by La Ronge, Lac La Ronge, and Air Ronge. The three latter communities — plus Stanley Mission — had been placed on standby notice earlier in the day. Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson issued the order for Sucker Bay at 10 a.m. due to the shifting advancement of the blaze (known as the Pisew fire). Article content An evacuation notice from the SPSA followed at around 11:30 a.m. for the other three subdivisions: Wadin Bay, English Bay and Nemeiben. It advised residents to travel south to La Ronge for co-ordinated supports. Article content La Ronge, Lac La Ronge and Air Ronge were added to the evacuation list late Monday afternoon, along with nearby Napatak, Eagle Point, Lamp Lake, Rabbit Creek and Potato Lake. Article content People driving their own vehicles from the area are being directed to take Highway 2 south and head to the Days Inn in Prince Albert. Those who need to catch transport by bus are to go to the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre in La Ronge. Article content Highway 165 south from Besnard Lake and Highway 969 to Timber Bay were both closed due to smoke and fire. Highway 915 into Stanley Mission was also expected to be compromised. Article content Article content Article content Help on the way? Article content Article content On Monday afternoon, SPSA vice-president of operations Steve Roberts said there were 18 wildfires actively burning in Saskatchewan, with six not contained and four under assessment. Article content 'We are looking at a potential for light showers maybe towards the end of the week, but we still have a number of days of extreme fire weather in front of us,' Roberts said. Article content Situated between Prince Albert and La Ronge, residents of Molanosa and Timber Bay were evacuated Sunday due to heavy smoke caused by another wildfire (known as the Ditch fire), which is still spreading near Montreal Lake. The hamlet of Weyakwin was previously evacuated from the area on May 28.
Global News
a day ago
- Climate
- Global News
Over 2 dozen Saskatchewan communities evacuated as northern wildfires rage
Thousands of people have been affected by wildfires in Saskatchewan, ignited by hot, dry weather that has allowed flames to grow and threaten dozens of communities. In an update Monday afternoon, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) said 16 fires are actively burning and the province has had 219 fires to date in 2025 — a significant jump from the five-year average of 131 wildfires. Of the 16 wildfires, five have been contained and six are still out of control. The fires have resulted in several road closures and Steve Roberts, the vice-president of operations for the SPSA, stressed those who do not absolutely need to be in wildfire-affected areas need to stay away. He said the fire situation is dynamic and changing even hour by hour, explaining some roads that were open Monday morning were closed by by early afternoon. Story continues below advertisement 'Non-essential travel on any of these roads is not advised, so seriously consider if you do wish to travel, that there is a bona fide essential need,' Roberts said, adding the roads need to remain clear for emergency crews and supplies to get where they need to go. 1:57 Smoke filled skies in Saskatchewan Because of the fire intensity and the weather conditions, a full fire ban and ATV ban across the entire northern part of Saskatchewan will remain in effect to ensure no more human-cause fires are started. The bans will remain until conditions improve. 'Looking at a potential for light showers maybe towards the end of the week, but we still have a number of days of extreme fire weather in front of us.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Looking at a potential for light showers maybe towards the end of the week, but we still have a number of days of extreme fire weather in front of us." Saskatchewan is receiving help from across Canada and the United States, but has not requested any aid from the Canadian Armed Forces. Story continues below advertisement Roberts noted while the military can help with airlifting people to safety, troops are not extensively trained to fight fires. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'They have limited exposure to it, so their ability to assist in that is limited and that's why we have not brought them in to date.' Instead, he said highly-qualified fire crews have arrived from Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, along with the U.S. states of Alaska, Oregon and Arizona. 'We appreciate their support as we fight through these very busy times and try to protect people, roads, access and get these fires contained as best as we can until we see a turn in the weather.' 3:29 Over 90% of Saskatchewan wildfires 'caused by human activity': Premier Scott Moe Northeast Saskatchewan fire departments are also responding. Mike Kwasnica, chief of the Humboldt Fire Department, told 'The Humboldt Fire Department is currently deploying groups of four firefighters at a time. Each group will do a four-day tour. We have committed to a minimum of 12 days to start.' Story continues below advertisement Kwasnica said they have been in discussions with the SPSA for a while and were put on notice last week. At present, Kwasnica said they have been asked to protect structures within the Weyakwin area. Across the province, 163 structures have been lost — both buildings such as homes, cottages, sheds and garages on private properties and provincial assets such as in Narrow Hills Provincial Park. The province said an estimated 8,000 people have been displaced due to evacuations in 26 communities, parks and mines. That said, the SPSA noted the number is in flux as some evacuees from earlier fires are able to return home, such as those from Canoe Lake who fled west to shelter in the Alberta community of Cold Lake last week. 2:06 Canada wildfires: Thousands flee Prairie communities as fires intensify The province said it was scouring every community in Saskatchewan for possible space to house evacuees but said in the event more people have to flee their homes and there's no room, it's in talks with Alberta to take in evacuees if needed. Story continues below advertisement 'Obviously to the west makes more sense because Manitoba is also constrained,' Roberts said, where more than 17,000 people have been displaced in the past week, including all 5,000 residents of Flin Flon. That wildfire is raging on both sides of the provincial border. On the Saskatchewan side, it's listed as 25,000 hectares, forcing Creighton and surrounding communities to be evacuated. SPSA said the fire is growing but to the north, away from the communities. The largest wildfire in the province, the Shoe fire burning northeast of Prince Albert, was 407,000 hectares on Monday after growing over the past 24 hours. It led to several community evacuations and the closure of Narrow Hills Provincial Park. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said all of Confederation has come together to help out the three Prairie provinces. Story continues below advertisement 'Many others around this table are consistently reaching out to the three of us to offer resources,' he said. 'And for that, we're very grateful.' Moe has said there will likely be many more evacuation orders over the next week. Evacuation orders have been issued for many areas in the north, including: Piprell Lake Narrow Hills Provincial Park East Trout Lake Hall Lake Brabant Lake Lower Fishing Lake Pelican Narrows Whiteswan/Whelan Bay Birch Portage First Nation Sturgeon Weir Deschambault Lake Creighton/Denare Beach/Jan Lake Weyakwin Resort subdivision of Ramsey Bay Northern hamlet of Timber Bay Molanosa Nemeiben Lake Sucker River Wadin Bay English Bay 1:52 '30 minutes to get out': Wildfires force evacuations in Alta., Sask. — with files from Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press and Nicole Goldsworthy,
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Four communites around La Ronge given wildfire evacuation orders
Residents of Sucker River, Wadin Bay, English Bay and Nemeiben have been given a mandatory evacuation order, as a uncontained wildfire near La Ronge moved closer to the community over the weekend. Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson issued the order for Sucker Bay at 10 a.m. on Monday, due to the shifting closeness of the Pisew fire. It is burning just 16 kilometres west of La Ronge, about 260 kilometres north of Prince Albert. An evacuation notice from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) for the three other subdivisions followed at around 11:30 a.m. It advised residents to travel south to La Ronge for coordinated supports. Nearby, La Ronge, Lac La Ronge, Air Ronge and Stanley Mission were also put on standby notice, due to the same fire's proximity. The resort subdivision of Ramsey Bay was advised to flee on Friday, with arrangements made to escort evacuees south. Arrangements for buses, gas for personal vehicles and accommodations through Red Cross were in the works as of Monday at 10 a.m., according to a statement from Cook-Searson shared online. Highway 165 south from Besnard Lake and Highway 969 to Timber Bay are both closed due to smoke and fire. Residents were advised Highway 915 into Stanley Mission was also expected to be compromised. Those leaving any of the four communities on Monday are to meet at the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre in La Ronge for buses and other supports. The Pisew fire has reached around 83,000 hectares in size as of Monday, according to the SPSA's active wildfire map online. More than 8,000 people from 20 northern Saskatchewan communities remain on mandatory evacuation orders due to wildfires. Residents of Molanosa and Timber Bay were evacuated on Sunday, due to heavy smoke in the area caused by the Ditch wildfire, which is still spreading near Montreal Lake. The hamlet of Weyakwin was previously evacuated from the area on May 28. Some evacuees from Canoe Lake First Nation were granted permission to return home late Sunday, though warned the air quality in the area remains poor due to smoke. The Shoe fire in Narrow Hills Provincial Park, currently threatening 11 communities including Candle Lake, Smeaton and Choiceland, has grown to over 305,000 hectares in size as of Monday. Saskatchewan has declared a provincial state of emergency, and imposed a provincewide fire ban as well as an ATV ban in the northern district to reduce risk of new fires sparking. A daily update from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency on the situation is expected Monday afternoon. lkurz@ 'These are devastating': Dispatches on the Saskatchewan wildfire situation Saskatchewan premier says more evacuations likely if current weather persists 'This is our home': P.A. grand chief says Sask. wildfire situation is dire, but northern people are ready to fight The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Climate
- Calgary Herald
'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.
