The first of an expected 2,000 fire evacuees have landed in Regina. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Ronald Quaroni

Fire Evacuees

Prince Albert one of three cities accepting Northern Ontario residents displaced by fire

Jul 11, 2019 | 2:02 PM

Wildfires in parts of Northern Ontario are forcing thousands to flee their homes and communities. Saskatchewan and Prince Albert are stepping up to help.

Together with the cities of Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert the province is expected to take in some 2,000 fire evacuees from the Pikangikum First Nation in northwestern Ontario.

The first wave of evacuees have arrived by way of military aircraft to Regina. By the end of the day 400 are expected in the Queen city.

“Initially, social services and the Red Cross will cover the initial costs up front to make sure the needs of the residents are met,” Deanna Valentine, provincial coordinator for emergency social services said. “Then we would look at bill-backs to the Ontario and federal governments.”

Valentine explained that as this is an emergency situation, timelines surrounding the arrival of evacuees in Saskatoon and subsequently Prince Albert are hard to predict.

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“We’re still working on the arrangements for Prince Albert, because Prince Albert would be our third in line host community. We haven’t focused as strongly on Prince Albert yet,” Valentine explained.

The arrangement of lodgings, food and activities is quickly taking place, but according to Duane McKay, the vice president of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency there is a unique challenge to this evacuation: Language.

“We’re receiving a lot of support from Ontario, (with) First Nations liaison officers, Ojibwe speakers, cultural officers to make sure we’re addressing First Nations issues as best we can,” he said.

There’s no word how long the fire is expected to last.

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Ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni