La Ronge evacuated: Stories from Saskatchewan’s burning north
As the sun dipped below the treeline on Sunday evening, a slow-moving convoy snaked its way south from La Ronge, headlights piercing the thick, acrid smoke.
It was a mass exodus driven by desperation — a wildfire known as the Pisew fire had breached the town’s airport, forcing thousands to evacuate with only hours’ notice.
Sharon, a La Ronge resident of 40 years, was one of them.
“We were able to leave La Ronge about six p.m., and there was a long line of traffic moving slowly,” she said. “There was fire on both sides of the roads, most of the part and heavy smoke in lots of areas.”