Wanuskewin Threatened By Wildfire
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 12:46
The CEO of Wanuskewin Heritage Park says a grass fire near the park yesterday could have been much worse.
Dana Soonias says the fire came within 20 to 30 feet of the building, which firefighters were working hard to protect because its siding and roof are cedar and would easily catch fire.
The heritage centre at the Park was threatened several times throughout the afternoon.
The blaze broke out at 1:47 p.m., and at one point, forced the temporary closure of Highway 11 when it reached the highway’s edge.
The fire was finally brought under control at around 6:30 last night.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
Soonias says when he looks outside now, he sees a new beginning rather than destruction.
Soonias says there is little damage — a bridge in the trail area needs some work and the building itself needs to be aired out as it had smoke in it.
He doesn’t think it will impact visitors, though, as he figures in about a week or so the trail area will be green.
Wanuskewin is currently home to an Allen Sapp exhibition, as well as “Portraits of the North” — which are of elders from northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba.