A home and garage were destroyed by fire in Emma Lake on Saturday. (Facebook/Jerilyn Carl)

By Susan McNeil

Emma Lake fire

Emma Lake family loses home to fire

Sep 29, 2025 | 11:53 AM

A family in Emma Lake is safe but without a roof after a fire this weekend destroyed their cabin.

The Lakeland and District Fire Department was called to the residence in the Sunnyside Beach area west of Christopher Lake just before 11 am on Saturday, Sept. 27.

“At 11:03, crews arrived on scene and they were met with a fully involved structure fire that had spread to two other structures, a vehicle and a boat,” the department stated via social media.

With some intense effort and some help from other partners, they managed to contain the blaze before it spread to other homes.

“With the assistance of our mutual aid partners Buckland Fire and Rescue crews were able to save surrounding structures with some sustaining heat damage,” the fire department said.

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The Lakeland & District Fire Department was on scene to contain the fire. (Facebook/LLFD)

Buckland Fire responded at 11:17 with several trucks as a mutual aid call. Their command unit, and two tankers staffed by five firefighters drove to the fire while remaining resources stayed behind for their own coverage.

Buckland’s tanker trucks were used to refill the attack truck and also pumped water from the lake into a fill system.

“Lakeland Fire did an outstanding job of preventing this fire from spreading and losing more structures and property. Hats off to you! We are stronger when we work together. As always thanks to our members for responding and helping our neighbour to the north,” said Buckland Fire on their own media page.

Buckland Fire helped out with two tanker trucks for water supply. (Facebook/Buckland Fire)

George Villeneuve and Nicole Pocha-Villeneuve confirmed yesterday that their cabin was lost.

“Yesterday we lost our house. Our cabin at the lake. We just want to thank everyone for all their generosity, help and compassion. This is a reason we moved out there to begin with because of the cooperation and the small town mentality. Everybody in that community came together to help us. We just want to say thank you very much to everyone that was there and everybody that is helping us. As well as the continuing support in this… journey,” they said.

A friend of the Villeneuves has started a fundraiser for the family to help them in their time of need.

She said that the family, and their Emma Lake business, GNT Car Wash, are often the first to step up when others need help and now is the time for the community to return the favour.

Donations can be sent via e-transfer to: George_villeneuve@hotmail.com with the memo note, fire donation.

For more information, please contact Vanessa – (306) 960-1290

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social