Wayne Galloway says the region has seen large plumes of smoke and ash over the last few weeks, and the flames have gotten dangerously close to his camp. (Submitted photo)

By CKOM/Daniel Reech

wildfires

‘It’s terrifying’: Sask. hunting camp confronts northern wildfires

Aug 30, 2024 | 8:12 AM

As wildfires continue raging in northern Saskatchewan, the owner of a remote wilderness camp is concerned about his livelihood.

“There’s no place to go,” said Wayne Galloway, who owns Paull River Wilderness Camp, located 70 air miles north of La Ronge.

The log cabins, nestled around the pristine northern lake, attract American hunters and anglers through the spring, summer and fall.

The area also serves as his year-round home.

But Galloway says the region has seen large plumes of smoke and ash over the last few weeks, and the flames have gotten dangerously close to his camp.

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“It’s terrifying. It absolutely is terrifying,” he said.

Galloway says he has 16 sprinklers running in his yard and another pump with a fire hose ready to go.

He said the situation has been worsened by how dry the weather has been in the north since the end of June.

According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, there were 67 wildfires burning around the province on Thursday morning, with 10 considered uncontained. The province has seen 539 wildfires so far this year, well ahead of the five-year average, which sits at 347.

Galloway said he’s received support from the La Ronge Regional Fire Department, but there hasn’t been any aerial support from the province due to a lack of available aircraft to drop fire retardant.

On Wednesday, Premier Scott Moe said the SPSA takes prudent action quickly with the resources it has to address the fires in the north.

“We have just committed to another close to $200 million investment in additional aircraft that are going to help service and keep our northern community safe, as well as our forest fringe and even our southern communities at times,” he told reporters.

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