Good, but not enough.
Today’s rainfall in the Lac La Ronge area – 5mm, perhaps 10 mm – was helpful, but it was not enough to say the fire is contained near the communities of Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Air Ronge, and La Ronge.
“Unfortunately, the threat assessment has not changed,” reported Wildfire Management to the local Emergency Operations Centre.
One benefit of the rainfall was that it did allow firefighters to detect and assess hot spots still smoldering near the airport. There are many spots still smoking in that area, visible even in the middle of the rain. Tomorrow, which is supposed to start off sunnier and warmer, efforts will focus on that area. More rain is forecasted for Thursday and Friday.
Depsite the bad news, the health authority is still making preparations and notifying staff to re-open the hospital in the near future. SaskEnergy continues to prepare its lines to repressurize; the gas was released when the fire first approached, in order to eliminate the risk of explosions.
Meanwhile, Wildfire Management is adding a crew to tackle the Lynx fire, which has periodically closed Highway 915 to Stanley Mission, and is now 300 metres from Highway 102. Crews must protect not only road access, but power lines which supply communities along the north side of Lac La Ronge.
And the Carey fire north of Wapawekka has reached the south shore of Lac La Ronge, and up to Hunter’s Bay.
The rain did not eliminate the smoke risks either. Unfortunately, approximately a dozen evacuees with health difficulties, who had been lodged in southern shelters, were mistakenly returned; although their communities are secure from fire, the smoke still poses a health risk, and they must return south.
For more information, monitor MBC radio, and the social media sites of local leadership.
Posted on behalf of the Emergency Operations Centre for the Town La Ronge, Village of Air Ronge, and Lac La Ronge Indian Band.