An evacuation order for Beauval, Sask., A community about 340 kilometers northwest of Saskatoon, rose on Wednesday, almost a month after the Muskeg fire forced residents to leave.
Many stayed in cities like Saskatoon or Moose Jaw. They began to return on Wednesday morning on buses organized by the Government.
The Beaucal resident, Tyrese Lafleur, said she was grateful for the help of the province, but is ready to return.
“It has been good. They supported us, they gave us drinks and food. Really good for us,” he said. “I am excited to return home.”
To residents who could not travel back, such as families with young children or people with respiratory problems, have been offered to stay where they are for now by the Local Emergency Operations Committee.
For Laura Natewayes, that means waiting a little more for her father to return home. She said she understands why not everyone can return immediately.
“I just want them to come here today,” said Natewayes.
Residents considered priority 1, those with serious health risks if they are exposed to smoke, and people are advised with moderate risk, such as young children, pregnant people and some older people, who remain away from the community for now.
Any other person has been told to return home on buses organized by the Government on Wednesday, since the Public Security Agency of Saskatchewan will not renew the hotel rooms for which they do not appear on the list.
The emergency status of Beauval will remain in place until at least on August 6.
Red Cross supports for Beaucal residents
As residents return, Beauval leans strongly in local support and provincial aid to help relieve the transition to normal life.
The Canadian Red Cross announced Wednesday that financial assistance is available for people “evacuated from their main residence due to forest fires in Saskatchewan.”
Through an association with the Public Security Agency of Saskatchewan (SPSA), the Red Cross is distributing $ 750 on unique re -entry support and $ 2,000 in extended displacement support.
The Red Cross says that the members of the first nations will receive the money through their local leadership and everyone else will obtain it directly from the Red Cross.
SPSA Supports for Beauc
In addition to the coordinated logistics support through the Beaucal Emergency Operations Center, the SPSA and other government departments are providing more assistance ranging from money to mental health resources.
At a press conference on Wednesday, SPSA vice president Steve Roberts said that the community will work to obtain infrastructure, needs of groceries, gases and medical care centers in operation, “so that when they arrive they can basically begin to return to business as usual.”
Beaucal schools are still closed, but Roberts said that anything else that is generally administered by the government should be open as the evacuees return.
He also reformulated that the evacuees will receive a $ 500 recovery check from the provincial government.
“To, again, replenish their refrigerators, do any cleaning they have to do at home due to smoke,” Roberts said. “They will also receive that once they return to their communities.”
