No growth in wildfire threatening La Loche

Crews are continuing to battle wildfires throughout Saskatchewan.

There are currently 13 active wildfires in the province, six of which are not contained.

The largest wildfire threat in the province is a fire burning near the village of La Loche and the Clearwater River Dene First Nation. Those communities have both been evacuated in the last 48 hours because of the threat, but there was some good news for those areas Friday, according to Steve Roberts of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.

“This fire is 266 hectares, but there has been no growth in the past 36 hours. No homes, businesses or infrastructure has been damaged by the fire,” Roberts explained, adding the agency’s response to the fire includes multiple crews of firefighters, heavy equipment, helicopters and air tankers.

“We’ve been able to significantly increase our heavy equipment and helicopter support to this fire in the last 24 hours, which has led to some of our success.”

Roberts noted the smoke from the fires is expected to travel north, so it shouldn’t impact any of the province’s major cities.

Those who were displaced from La Loche because of the fire have been asked to go to Regina. Evacuation organizers asked the evacuees to meet at a hotel in downtown Regina. If that fills up, they’ll be sent to the University of Regina.

Roberts says the agency had to send the evacuees to Regina because that’s the best place where they could find enough space.

“We have to be able to potentially handle up to 3,000 evacuees. Local jurisdictions like Lloydminster, Battlefords and Prince Albert can’t handle those types of numbers,” said Roberts.

“They were already receiving evacuees from the Clearwater River Dene First Nation,” Roberts added. “The largest capacity we have in the province for that number is in Regina, so plans are made move those groups to Regina to keep continuity between families and groups and to organize supports for those evacuated.”

The five-year wildfire average for this time of year is 38. Since the snow melted in Saskatchewan, Roberts said the province has already registered 73 fires.

Roberts said all 73 of them have been started by humans.

“All fires will be investigated for cause and origin,” he said.

Others in areas that could be at risk from wildfires were asked to prepare in advance, just in case the situation progresses to the point where they need to leave.