The fancy word is repatriation, but most people would simply say, “We’re coming home!”
Following the lifting of the evacuation order for La Ronge, Air Ronge and local Lac La Ronge Indian Band, vehicles began sifting back into the communities at 1 p.m. today.
More will arrive tomorrow, to be followed by buses that will bring home evacuees from many emergency shelters: two buses from Prince Albert, four from Saskatoon, and seven from Cold Lake. A few more will likely follow for latecomers on Sunday, and if anyone needs assistance getting home, they should contact the Red Cross at 1-888-953-3463.
The work doesn’t end for everybody. The evacuees will be welcomed back with food, and assisted where necessary. The health centre employees will continue to ramp up services as staff return, police return to business as usual, and SaskPower will have weeks ahead of clearing out burned trees threatening power lines.
And of course, Wildfire Management and conservation officers will continue battling fires farther from urban eyes in communities. The recent rain has given them a bit of a reprieve, but large forest fires can smolder a long time, and start up again when the weather warms.
Hall Lake and Sucker River are still evacuated, as are some subdivisions near La Ronge.
As the local Emergency Operations Centre wound down, the management team reflected on lessons learned, and the detailed review ahead.
However, they also expressed thanks for a solid team effort in a stressful, demanding situation, and they looked for the positives. The Band saw two elders pass away during the evacuation, but also one baby born, and that news brought cheers.
Cabin and cottage owners are being informed of their losses, but Environment is hearing from most that they plan to rebuild. Believe it or not, in the early burned areas around Nemeiben Lake, fireweed is already pushing up green.
Posted on behalf of the Emergency Operations Centre for the Town La Ronge, Village of Air Ronge, and Lac La Ronge Indian Band.