There are several fires of concern near La Ronge. (Submitted photo/Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency)

By Derek Cornet

fires of concern

Numerous uncontained fires affecting LLRIB communities

Jul 14, 2021 | 2:07 PM

Fires near Grandmother’s Bay and Stanley Mission are being actively engaged by air tankers, ground crews and helicopters.

Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency vice-president of operations, Steve Roberts, held a media conference Wednesday to update the public on the current wildfire situation. He explained fire crews are responding to one fire near Grandmother’s Bay and two near Stanley Mission, which are among 122 burning throughout the province.

The Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) is reporting 114 evacuees from Grandmother’s Bay, many of whom are staying in hotel rooms in La Ronge.

“The small (weather) systems that we’ve been seeing for the last number of days are producing slight amounts of precipitation, but they are also producing lightning which is giving us new fire starts,” Roberts said. “As the risk of hot, dry weather and the number of fires we have, the provincial fire ban will remain in effect, likely for another three to five days.”

Another fire near Highway 2 North south of La Ronge is being engaged by heavy equipment, crews and aircraft. Roberts noted if fire or smoke were to move in the direction of the highway, it could impede and affect traffic.

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The Lac La Ronge Dam is also being monitored and a sprinkler system is in operation due to a nearby fire. There is flammable material on-site used for regular operations, but crews completing an upgrade to the dam have left the area. The automated dam is not expected to fail should a fire approach it.

“Based on all of the fire activity, our crews have been working extremely hard over the last two, three weeks,” Roberts said. “We are reaching out to both local and provincial, and some of our national, partners to look at the potential of what resources may be available to add to our government fire crews and our community fire crews, which are fully engaged at this time in the province.”

Other fires of concern across the province have led to the evacuation of Dillon, Michel Village, St. George’s Hill and Southend. Another fire near Black Lake and Stony Rapids has seen some progress, as there has been precipitation and the risk of that fire is falling.

Early this morning, the LLRIB Emergency Response Info Page on Facebook reported the immediate road closures of Highway 102 North to Southend.

So far, there has been 354 fires in 2021 which is 146 above the five-year average.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno