(Submitted photo/Tammy Cook-Searson)

By CKOM News

STANLEY MISSION

Wildfire forces full evacuation of Stanley Mission

Jun 10, 2022 | 8:53 AM

The entire community of Stanley Mission is being evacuated due to a nearby wildfire.

The order was given late Thursday night after the fire crossed Highway 915, forcing the only road in and out of the community to close.

“For those driving private vehicles, please do not leave (Thursday night). It is unsafe,” a Facebook post from Maurice Ratt, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band’s Emergency Management Officer, said.”

“At this time, we ask our community members to pack for 5 days.”

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The Highway Hotline listed the highway as open Friday morning but warned it could close again with little notice.

According to the online post, registration would begin at 8:00 a.m. at the community’s elder’s centre with buses arriving at 9:00 a.m. to begin taking people out of the community.

About half of the 2,000 people who live in Stanley Mission, mainly seniors, children and people with breathing problems, were taken to Prince Albert and Saskatoon earlier in the week.

The band issued a call for help from all available emergency service personnel who worked through the night to protect the community’s infrastructure.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency and Prince Albert Grand Council are assisting local firefighters. The La Ronge Regional Fire Department announced Friday it was sending members to help with the general evacuation.

Stanley Mission is located approximately 75 kilometres northeast of La Ronge.

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