(file photo/Government of Saskatchewan)

By Susan McNeil

Evacuation update

PBCN gives update after third community evacuated due to fire

Aug 29, 2024 | 5:11 PM

The head of the emergency operations overseeing the evacuation of thousands of people from northern Saskatchewan said that 22 days after the first evacuation, he is exhausted.

It started in Deschambault Lake to provide respite from smoke, continued with the evacuation of Sandy Bay and two days ago, accelerated with a very quick evacuation of Southend.

“Because of the fire progressing along the sole access road and it being closed at the time, we had a very small window to… provide transportation and support for our community members to evacuate,” said Duane Hiebert, emergency services co-ordinator.

Chief Tammy Cook-Searson sent out four school buses from La Ronge and they also pressed their own buses into service and managed to get 700 people out between 6:00 am and 11:00 am.

Others left in private vehicles.

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While a few people are staying with family in Prince Albert, most went to Saskatoon. The community is waiting to evacuate more people, and they will likely end up in Regina as hotels in the two more northern cities fill up.

Hiebert said that with every new place evacuees are sent to, that means more administrative people are needed to organize support for the evacuees in areas like rooms, food and fuel vouchers.

“We’re drawing on many of our other programs for the most part, for those evacuees from Southend to provide support for our evacuees at each one of the hotels.

“We’re also relying on PBCN Health Services to provide assistance for those individuals that were the first evacuees,” Hiebert said. People with high risk such as health conditions were taken out first and primarily are in Prince Albert.

People are still in Southend, some providing essential services, some are doing security, and some have chosen not to leave.

“Some are heading out on the lake, which is another safety concern because it’s very windy up there and as you made not be aware, Reindeer Lake is the second largest lake in Saskatchewan.”

The Northern Store has remained open and is providing food for those who stayed.

Monitoring will be close, though, as the fire is alongside the road and closures have been frequent.

It’s going to be a while before the emergency operations centre staff can really relax though.

“This evacuation is just beginning and with the road being compromised and the proximity of the fire to the community, I think we’ll continue on into this one for another probably 10 days, maybe two weeks.”

The Red Cross has set up reception centres for evacuees in Prince Albert and Saskatoon and is co-ordinating meals and other requests. In Saskatoon, shuttles are being provided to evacuees between hotels and several retail locations and they are working some recreational activities.

What is really needed right away is some extended rain, said Chief Beatty. He doesn’t look to get his wish, however, as the forecast calls for thunderstorms tomorrow then sun and heat until next week when it may begin to rain in Southend.

The Merkley fire is currently out of control and just over 30,000 hectares in size. It was started by lightning on July 10, according to Sask. Public Safety Agency data.

The Flanagan Fire, which caused the evacuation of Sandy Bay, is almost 55,000 hectares and is about six kilometres from the community.

It is partly held but is not contained and remains within three kilometres of a hydroelectric power station.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com