Monday Evening La Ronge Report July 6, 2015
The firefighting effort on the north edge of La Ronge was helped today by south winds, but the weather forecast for Tuesday has crews expecting a tougher day ahead.
The fire east of the airport did not advance much further south towards Eagle Point, but a finger of the fire ran eastwards towards the lake, expanding the fireline.
Winds are anticipated from the northwest tomorrow, which could push fire towards McGibbon Bay.
On the northwest flank, the fire moved along the bulldozer line about 4 km from town.
This evening, fire management crews finally had favourable conditions and have started a backburn on that line to use up fuel for the Egg fire.
Southend, 220 km to the north, has now also evacuated approximately 150 people due to smoke from a fire in that area, and they – along with 23 from Brabant and some more from Stanley Mission – were escorted through the La Ronge fire zone to points southward.
The Jonas Roberts Centre is still acting as a gathering and registration point for people needing transportation or other assistance.
Highway 102 north of La Ronge is still closed to general traffic.
Highway 2 from Prince Albert to La Ronge is expected to be open for most of the distance, but no one except emergency personnel will have access to, or through, the three communities.
The Eli fire has pushed hard against Wadin Bay, and has also moved to the southern edge of Sucker River.
The resort areas of Napatak and Potato Lake to the south are not immediately threatened, but evacuation is still prudent.
An emergency clinic is now operating out of the ambulance centre.
Emergency services are still available through 911.
Evacuees can register with the Red Cross at 1-888-953-3463, or stop at the Margo Fournier Centre (north of Northgate Mall) in Prince Albert.