The home of Norman and Denise Thomson at Eagle Point is a total loss. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

loss

Wildfire claims water bomber pilot’s home for second time

Jun 3, 2025 | 3:41 PM

A water bomber pilot from La Ronge has lost his house for a second time due to wildfires.

“We built that home in 2000 [in Eagle Point] after the house burnt there in 1999,” Norman Thomson’s wife, Denise, told larongeNOW on Tuesday.

“You hear a lot about fires and how quickly things can change and we do live in the boreal forest, so I don’t think anyone can be very surprised that this happened, and it will continue to happen and I don’t believe there is any way in having 100 per cent protection.”

There were several buildings that burned down in the last day because of the fast-moving Pisew fire. It forced the evacuation of approximately 7,500 from Air Ronge, La Ronge and Lac La Ronge Indian Band communities on Monday.

Eagle Point is located directly adjacent to La Ronge headed north.

Former Bruins Enforcer

Nipawin born and former Boston Bruin Byers dead at 61

10m ago

Weapons complaint near riverbank leads to three arrests

2h ago

Early morning fire

Midtown Hall playground burned in early morning blaze

5h ago

The fire continues to rage, and as of 3 p.m., it was approaching a neighbourhood called Bigstone. If residents have not yet evacuated, they are urged to do so going south on Highway 2.

Even though Thomson lost her home, she said she’s grateful for the work fire crews are doing and that residents were able to safely evacuate.

“Of course, you are sad. You lose the baby’s pictures and all of that sort of thing. But at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that nobody is hurt and nobody is killed, and if that is how we come out of this at the end, then we’ve won this.”

There were several structures that burned in Eagle Point in the last day. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

A large quonset was among the buildings to burn. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Air Ronge’s Doug Holinaty lost his cabin along McGibbon to the Pisew fire. He took a boat down the bay this morning and said five other cabins were destroyed.

Upon seeing his cabin burnt down on Tuesday, he said he felt a sense of helplessness.

“We did our trapping and did our fishing there. In the wintertime when I had the road plowed up to the cabin, I could drive right up to the steps by my cabin. That was nice,” he remarked.

“It is going to be a different winter this year for sure. Everything is just pitch black.”

While Thomson was in Saskatoon when her home was claimed by flames, Holinaty is at his home in Air Ronge trying to protect it. He’s installed a sprinkler system and will be watching for the fire as it once again inches closer to the tri-communities.

–

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com