The fire in view on Aug. 29. Photo courtesy Facebook, Vanessa Linklater-McCallum.
The fire situation in northeast Saskatchewan is described as stable today, even though the smoke has cleared for now, but it is still anyone’s guess as to how long it will be before thousands of residents are allowed back home.
It is now estimated that more than 3,000 people have left Pelican Narrows, leaving about 500 people behind. Another couple of hundred people have been evacuated from the communities of Sandy Bay, Birch Portage and Jan Bay.
Steve Roberts, with wildfire management, says crews have been able to prevent the fires from causing any property or infrastructure damage.
“So again, all those fires are stable. We have no reports of any community structure or critical infrastructure that have been burned by these fires,” he said.
There are three fires burning in the area. The largest is the Granite Fire, southwest of Pelican Narrows, at 600 square kilometres.
The Preston Fire is north of Pelican Narrows and is about 200 square kilometres, while the third fire, southwest of Pelican Narrows, is about 60 square kilometres in size.
All available firefighting equipment, including water tankers that were on loan to other provinces, are back in Saskatchewan, concentrating efforts in the northeast. As well, about 150 firefighters are battling the flames using heavy equipment, helicopters and air tankers.
The Commissioner of Emergency Management, Duane McKay, says everything is going as well as can be expected, although there has been a request to have some food supplies shipped to Sandy Bay.
“Basically, supplies to help them maintain their focus in their community, and so we are addressing the pieces where we can, which is supplies,” he said.
Emergency social services is looking after about 2,100 people in hotels and shelters in Prince Albert and Saskatoon. Prince Albert is now at capacity. Other evacuees are staying with friends and relatives. There is also a contingency plan in place to bring in teachers to help the children begin their school year if the evacuation order drags on.
With the extreme fire risk, there is a ban on open fires in all provincial parks. La Ronge, Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band have also imposed a ban. Charcoal briquettes and propane stoves are still allowed, but open fires are out.