After up to 32 days away, Beaucal residents, Sask., They can go home on Wednesday.
Northern Village plans to lift its mandatory evacuation order on July 30, just over a month after forest fires forced residents of their homes in the community about 340 kilometers northwest of Saskatoon.
“It’s an appointment that we have been waiting for, for a long time,” said Beauval Mayor Rick Laliberte 306 Peter Mills.
Beauval began to evacuate June 28 with a voluntary order. Then, the Muskeg fire surrounded the community on July 10, forcing the remaining residents to leave. The fire was a category 6 when it reached Beaucal, rolling in the treetops, traveling with the wind and moving from 10 to 15 kilometers in noon, said Laibte.
The flames moved just like The last Evacuated bus left the town. Some residents were sent as south as Moose Jaw.
The community said buses would be organized to transport evacuated on Wednesday. The local state of emergency of Beauval is expected to remain in force until August 6. Priority 1 and 2 people, including the elderly, children and those with medical conditions, will remain outside the community, according to Lalibre.
He thanked SPSA for making the evacuation process “as soft as possible”, and all community volunteers in Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert for coordinating activities and maintaining the minds of people out of the threat.
“[The fires] He directed our community, but we survived, “Lalibre said, adding that no home or” importance construction was lost. “
Lalibre remained late to help with fire fighting, calling him a “heartbreaking experience.” He was recently honored with a fire bear medallion for his efforts.
The fire still threatening the surrounding areas
Lalibre said the area has had four years of drought.
“The threat is not over,” he said.
There are still fires near Beauval, including near Pine House, Loche and English River First Nation, he said.
But the immediate area around the community, which was intentionally returned for fire control, is stable enough to begin allowing residents of Casa, Lalibre said.
“Since he is already burned here, we don’t expect another fire to return to us,” he said.
There is a green area east, near the community of complexes of the plonge, with virgin wood that could be a threat if a fire of category 5 or higher reaches it, Lalibre said, but beaucal itself is separated by a river.
“That river is a kind of shock absorber of that danger,” Lalibre said. “Our community of northern Beaucal, Sakamayack Subdivision and Beauval Forks, we feel safe and that is why this decision was taken by the village council.”
Canadian Armed Forces personnel in Beauval
Lalibre said that the members of the Canadian Armed Forces arrived in Beauval on Monday night to help with fire operations.
There is a sense of security that has those boots on the ground because the fire is very large: 3,000 square kilometers, Lalibre said.
Another fire extinguishing personnel around the world, including Mexico and Australia, are also currently in the Northern village.
