Evacuation Begins in Black Lake and Stony Rapids

Evacuation Begins in Black Lake and Stony Rapids

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 17:46

 

 

An evacuation is beginning at the Black lake First Nation and the community of Stony Rapids.

 

Approximately three hundred people are being sent to Prince Albert because of thick smoke in the community.

 

Children one year and under and people with respiratory and cardiac problems are flying to Prince Albert where they will be housed at SIAST.

 

Christina Kathlic is a coordinator with the band.

 

She says a fire has been burning across the lake for about a week now and the smoke is quite thick:

 

“uh it looks like a bomb exploded. It’s really black. The wind is going to shift tonight. It looks scary.”

 

She says more people could be evacuated too depending on the situation.

 

Meanwhile Stony Rapids Mayor Sandra Handen is also warning residents not to try driving south on the Athabasca Seasonal Road.

 

She says people will be putting themselves at risk if they do so.

 

The ministry of highways has also closed that road till further notice.

 

Environment spokeswoman Jeanette Krayetski reports the Passfield fire is about twenty to twenty-five kilometres south of Stony Rapids and Black Lake.

 

She says the wind began shifting Wednesday afternoon forcing smoke into the community.

 

She notes the Far North has been much drier and windier than the south in terms of precipitation.

 

The Passfield Fire started due to lightning strikes.