UPDATE – Statement from Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson (10:15 pm, Thursday, June 25th):
Currently there are no fires threatening any of our communities.
Due to heavy smoke in Sucker River we are moving people with asthma and chronic illness. We are making arrangements, please call the Sucker River Band Office at 306-425-4113.
Stanley Mission is still on stand by notice due to the smoke.
All other communities have been put on a alert as the smoke may shift due to changing wind conditions.
No roads closed as of yet.
UPDATE – According to the provincial government, external resources are being brought in to help with northern Saskatchewan’s current wildfire situation. Wildfire Management has confirmed that a specialized aerial burn unit and a pair of CL-215T aircraft from Quebec have been ordered.
UPDATE – Statement from Northern Municipal Services:
Voluntary Evacuation Notice
The Settlement of Stanley Mission; the Resort Subdivisions of Napatak and Wadin Bay; and the Subdivisions of Eagle Point, English Bay, Lamp Lake, Nemeiben and Potato Lake are being advised of poor air quality in the region due to forest fires. This voluntary evacuation notice is being issued to those with chronic respiratory illnesses, expectant mothers and children under the age of two. The fires burning in areas aforementioned communities have resulted in smoke and ash in the air. Fire and health professionals have stated that the conditions are not expected to improve within the next few days. The public can expect the smoke levels to increase during the cooler periods of the day, being heaviest in the late evening and beginning to lift around mid-morning.
UPDATE – Statement from the provincial government (4:34 pm, Thursday, June 25th):
Due to extreme wildfire hazards in northern Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Environment is recommending no non-essential travel to the La Ronge area including Air Ronge, Sucker River, Wadin Bay, Stanley Mission and Nemeiben. The ministry is also recommending no non-essential travel north of La Ronge. People already in these areas are encouraged to relocate to a safer community not threatened by the current wildfire situation.
There are several fires in the La Ronge region that may pose smoke and fire risks to the area and surrounding communities, and sudden changes in wind direction could potentially result in evacuation.
The ministry, in consultation with the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, has issued a fire ban effective immediately on all open fires for all provincial forests, and for all provincial parks and recreation sites located within these forests. The ban includes and applies to the Canwood, Fort à la Corne, Nisbet, Northern, Porcupine and Torch River provincial forests. Parks, Culture and Sport is currently relocating campers in Nemeiben Lake and McKay Lake campgrounds to other campgrounds within Lac La Ronge Provincial Park.
People travelling or staying in remote areas are reminded to establish communications to ensure their safety while in the forest and be aware of surrounding conditions that may require relocation.
The area has been drying out significantly since the last rainfall, leading to potentially hazardous wildfire conditions. Currently, there is increased risk from active wildfires and smoke conditions especially in the area of La Ronge, including Missinipe, Sucker River, Wadin Bay, Nemeiben Lake, Black Bear Island Lake, Besnard Lake, Hall Lake, Clam Lake and Egg Lake. Active fires and fire hazards increase the potential for evacuations and effects on people with health conditions.
UPDATE – Statement from Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson (3:33 pm, Thursday, June 25th)
There is NO threat of fires to the communities at this time. However, we have been advised by Wildfire Managment that heavy smoke will be present in the communities of Sucker River, Stanley Mission and area. We are putting on alert and standby notice the people with high-risk health issues, Elders, children two years old and under and expectant moms. The smoke is coming or will be coming from the “Clark” (Nemiben Lake) and “Egg” (Sikachu and Clam Lake) fires.
Officials with the Ministry of the Environment say progress is being made on fires which forced the evacuation of Sikichew Lake and Clam Lake Bridge.
Provincial Fire Centre Manager Scott Wasylenchuk says no structures in the communities are in immediate danger, but the issue now is the smoke.
Water tankers, helicopters and ground crews are working on the blaze which flared up on Wednesday.
Wasylenchuk says a burning ban for the north which was announced earlier this summer and then rescinded, is back in effect. La Ronge, Air Ronge and the adjacent reserves have also re-issued fire bans.
Wasylenchuk also says people with cabins in remote areas are being advised to take precautions to protect their properties, given the dry conditions in the forest and the recent hot weather.
Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson says despite the progress being made fighting the “Egg Fire”, people won’t be allowed back to their homes today.
Yesterday a general evacuation notice was issues for residents of Sikachu Lake and Clam Lake Bridge and a a state of emergency was declared for those two communities.
“They made good progress on the fire yesterday but they want to make sure that it is 100-percent secure before we bring people back in so it’s going to get smoky today”.
Cook-Searson says they are hoping to have everyone back home on Friday if all goes well.
Around 60 people registered with the band for evacuation.
Some are with friends in the La Ronge area and some are in Prince Albert.
“None of the roads are closed they remain open. We have the band security that are monitoring the houses, and we have two of our Health Services staff that are headed to Prince Albert to go assist the people there that have been evacuated.