Sandy Bay evacuation order to be lifted Tuesday morning

The evacuation order for Sandy Bay is set to be lifted on Tuesday morning.

The order was put into effect on August 13 due to a fast-moving wildfire getting dangerously close to the northern community, which is home to about 1,800 people.

READ MORE:

• First Nation slams public safety agency as Sandy Bay evacuated due to fire
• ‘Incredibly difficult’: Wildfire evacuation order issued for Southend
• Northern communities frustrated during wildfire evacuations

“The Flanagan Fire has been contained with no growth in over 72 hours,” the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation said in a statement issued on Monday.

The fire has been contained, but there are still some hot spots that are being addressed, the First Nation noted.

Power, water and sewer systems are fully functional in Sandy Bay, the First Nation added, and essential services like health care, grocery stores, gas stations and the RCMP are also up and running.

Many of the residents who were forced to flee from Sandy Bay were staying in Prince Albert and Saskatoon. According to the First Nation, buses will be running Tuesday morning to return evacuees to the community, and care packages and other support services will be distributed to those who are returning.

This summer has been very active for wildfires in Saskatchewan. According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, there are 59 active fires in the province. So far this season, Saskatchewan has seen 575 wildfires, well ahead of the five-year average of 364.