An aerial view of the devastation caused by wildfire at East Trout Lake. (Submitted photo)

By paNOW/CKOM

Memories lost

‘It doesn’t feel real’: Wildfire leaves East Trout Lake residents devastated

May 29, 2025 | 8:17 PM

As wildfires continue to tear through the province, cabins once filled with memories are now turned into ash.

East Trout Lake, a community 133 km northwest of Candle Lake, was evacuated due to the Shoe wildfire.

Debbi Hydamacka’s cabin at East Trout Lake has been her “home away from home” for 55 years.

“We had confirmation yesterday that everything was burnt,” she said.

“It doesn’t feel real,” she said. “We’re all totally devastated.”

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An aerial view of the fires tearing through East Trout Lake. (Submitted photo)

The cabin was a place for year-round memories, beginning with Hydamacka’s parents, and has since become a place where approximately 12 to 15 family members often gather.

Hydamacka said she hasn’t seen the damage herself because a wooden bridge on the road into the community has burned down, and she will have to wait until it’s repaired to access the area.

“Until then we won’t know the full devastation, but we’ve seen pictures (and) we know there’s basically nothing left,” she said. “I guess it will really hit home when we see it.”

She said the area she lives in, which is closer to Candle Lake, has seen a dry spring, and said no fire bans were in place until after the Shoe fire had already started.

Hydamacka applauded the work done by water bombers and firefighters and said sprinklers were put up in different areas.

“Towards the end there was so much smoke, they couldn’t get back in even by helicopter to land and refuel the generators that were needed for those sprinklers, but realistically I don’t think it would have helped in the end. They did everything they could but we honestly needed more help.”

Moving forward, Hydamacka hopes her family will rebuild the cabin and that East Trout Lake will return to the place it once was.

“At my age, I will never see it recover, but my kids and grandkids will,” she said getting emotional.

Remnants of an ATV lost in the wildfire at Narrow Hills Provincial Park. (Submitted photo)

According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, as of Thursday afternoon, the Shoe fire is reported at 216,171 hectares.

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