McCafe fire remains imminent threat to Stanley Mission, residents on potential evacuation alert

By Derek Cornet

The McCafe fire burning near Stanley Mission remains uncontained and residents have been given notice to pack clothing in the event of an evacuation.

That’s according to Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, who explained buses are on standby in La Ronge and priority lists of evacuees have been circulated in case the fire moves towards the community.

Cook-Searson noted the fire remains an imminent threat to Stanley Mission and the band is working with the Red Cross in case hotel rooms are needed.

“According to Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, the fire did not grow that much yesterday,” Cook-Searson said. “They did have hotspots they were attacking. There were two skimmers from Manitoba that came in and they work really fast. It’s almost like three-minute intervals. They are very quick.”

The McCafe fire has currently burned nearly 3,900 hectares of forest at the south end of McCaffery/Merasty Lake. It is being attacked by air support, along with 80 firefighters from the region, as well as places such as Beauval and Patuanak.

The local rink has been set up to serve the firefighters and bunk trailers have been brought in for sleep accommodations.

An emergency operations centre is set up at the band office in Stanley Mission and the SPSA has an emergency response team and values protection unit on the south end of the community. Another team from the Prince Albert Grand Council is installing sprinklers on the perimeter of Stanley Mission and on critical infrastructure such as the gas station.

The SPSA is putting fire retardant spray on power poles starting from Lucky Lake to Stanley Mission.

“We keep in constant contact. We have meetings in the morning and in the evening,” Cook-Searson said. “The winds continue to be in their favour.”

Sunny skies and warm temperatures forecasted

It has been a dry spring in La Ronge with May being the eighth-driest out of 57 years on records.

Data from Environment Canada shows La Ronge received less than half the amount of precipitation that usually occurs in the month of May. There was only 13.6 millimetres of rain while the normal amount is 43.6 mm.

Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Terri Lang told larongeNOW there isn’t any precipitation in the forecast until Friday at the earliest. Sun and warm temperatures are expected until then.

“We have a ridge of high pressure that’s kind of keeping everything to the west and to the south. It’s pretty dry and on the warm side as well,” she said.

“The humidity is quite dry, so I think that’s what’s causing fires to flare up a little bit. It looks like maybe a change in the pattern late in the week. Maybe Thursday and into Friday there will be some thundershower activity starting to move through.”

A special air quality statement remains in effect for La Ronge, along with several provincial parks and Prince Albert National Park. The smoke from the McCafe fire is causing poor air quality and reducing visibility over portions of northern Saskatchewan.