When Rebecca McCrimon evacuated with his family from Denare Beach last week, it was because of concern that access to the Northeast community of Saskatchewan, not far from the Manitoba border, was interrupted by the fire of the club that burned to the north.
He packed some clothes and memories, thinking he could return home after the danger passed. But then, on Monday, Lobo’s fire suddenly moved from the west. He saw through a video feed while the flames went down the street in front of his house. Then the food darkened.
McCrimmon thought about the things he had not packed.
“There are many things that I would like to have taken,” he said in an interview on Wednesday, his voice followed. “Like my hospital daughter’s footprints, her hospital hat and her first haircut, different things like that.”
McCrimon, her husband and two and a half year old daughter, stay with her family in Gimli, man. McCrimmon said he is grateful for a family friend who is in the community and has been documenting the states of the properties to share with the residents, since it was “very difficult” when they did not know if their home was lost.
Cyndi Pedwell, who evacuated Denare Beach, Sask., And lost his home in the flames, says that the forest fire devastated the lower half of his community. Pedwell says that officials did not act quickly enough, adding “I feel that we were careless.”
Gracie Dareichuk is also dealing with the news that her house burned on the floor.
Like McCrimmon, he was not too worried until the winds changed on Monday and the Wolf fire made his career towards the community. She saw the photos and videos published in the cameras of the neighbors with a growing alarm, and with a huge feeling of helplessness.
“We could see the fire opening. It was tragic, as a terrible view of seeing,” Dareichuk said in an interview. “It felt almost like torture, as if you were sitting there, forced to see your home burn.”
The 21 -year -old nursing student has stayed with relatives in eastern Saskatchewan and in a caravan. While she is grateful to have family support, Dareichuk does not want to load them when she stays for weeks.
“I feel so lost,” he said. “I’m still saying, I just want to go home, but I know I can’t go home because now I don’t have a home.”
The Reserve of Denare Beach, located just south of the town, was also hit by the fire.
Easter Dubinak, who lives in the reserve, says that all but 10 houses there were lost.
“My parents’ house burned … and all my mother’s possessions were at our house,” Dubinak said.
“We lost it 15 years ago in the face of breast cancer and it seems that I have lost everything again. I am very devastated.”
Dubinak said the reservation is small makes it a specially united community.
“We always join to help each other,” he said. “When a member passed, we all cry for that member as if they were family, we were closely.”
Denare Beach residents are among the estimated 10,000 to 15,000 displaced people from 34 communities in Saskatchewan due to forest fires, according to Wednesday’s information session of the Saskatchewan Public Security Agency.
The estimated number of “values” lost, including houses, cabins, infrastructure and vehicles, is more than 400, said Spsa Steve Roberts Vice President.
There were 24 active fires in the province as of Wednesday afternoon, with only five classified as contained.
The Ronge is one of the communities with displaced residents waiting nervously news about any loss, after the Pisoew fire moved from the north. Two businesses, Robertson Trading and Rona, burned in the city on Tuesday night and have been told the most essential staff to leave.
Denare Beach has so far been the “largest impact area” in terms of lost values, Roberts said.
Updated information about active fires, smoke and related topics is available in these sources:
