Emergency teams reopened the only way to Patuk on early Monday, which allows residents to evacuate as forest fires continue to threaten parts of northern Saskatchewan.
The residents of the village about 425 kilometers north of Saskatoon had been trapped there since the 918 highway closed more than a week due to the Muskeg fire.
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They were told that they gathered in the Band Salon at 4 in the morning on Monday, then they were convinced to the south at the same time as the fire extinguishing team was transported north to the community.
“We can’t trust that [the equipment] He will be able to get there after today, “Candyce Paul, the Emergency Management Coordinator of English River First Nation, said Monday:” That is why we quickly moved to get our people in the early hours of this morning. “
Only firefighters and a handful of emergency personnel remain to maintain critical services and help incoming firefighters.
At the end of last week, some 280 residents and children were transferred by plane. Around another 220 people evacuated on Monday.
Those newly evacuated are now in Lloydminster, while the evacuees previously stay in Cold Lake. Paul said that the rapid response of the community staff helped guarantee the safety of residents, but the important concerns remain the resources.
“The province needs to put more money on the resources we need to fight fires in the north,” said Paul, “because this is our third year of fire that affects our communities.
“We are getting tired of being refugees of displaced fire.”
Forest fires have become again this month, which has led to the evacuations of eight communities in northern Saskatchewan. The most recent is the village of northern Patuk, as well as around Beauval and Montreal Lake Cree Nation.
Paul said the teams are still struggling to obtain enough excavators, water trucks and fire fighting personnel in the community. The fire moves quickly, and the conditions are unpredictable with strong southern winds that are expected to push the flames north for the next three days.
She said that the region has already lost vast sections of forest and cultural resources in recent years, including food sources, wildlife habitat and traditional medicine land.
“The only places that do not burn in our area are along that 918 corridor,” he said. “That’s all that remains to burn.”
National Parco Cuban Warm
Parks Canada issued a forest fire emergency advice alert for Prince Albert National Park on Sunday, since the Buhl fire threatens the region. The fire is about 40 kilometers from the place in the city of Waskesiu, and could affect the quality and visibility of air due to smoke.
Officials advise visitors to avoid traveling to the park and that those who are already in the area prepare for a possible evacuation.
Carla Flaman, Manager of External Relations of Parks Canada, told residents in an email that hot, dry and suction custodians have caused the fire to extend to the northern areas of the park.
She said the conditions are favorable so that the fire becomes bigger.
Just west of the park, Montreal Lake Cree Nation issued an order prior to evacuation on Sunday due to the same fire.
“We don’t want to alarm people,” said Vice Chief Dean Henderson. “We put that notification in case we do it [evacuate]To have your medications, your identifications or change of clothes, have such things ready. “
The pre -evacuation notice applies to the elderly, young people and those with chronic diseases, who are being transferred to North Battleford.
Henderson said that forest fire officials are closely monitoring the movement of the fire and that a decision on a complete evacuation could soon be made.
“We just finished meeting with fire management,” Henderson said Monday morning. “He is going to put a line on our map and say that if the fire reaches this point, then you should begin to organize your complete evacuation.”
Beaucal
Meanwhile, the mayor of Beauval, Sask., He said that the people are still surrounded by forest fires, about 340 kilometers north of Saskatoon.
Mayor Rick Lalibre, who has been helping to lead the emergency response, is also working on the front with voluntary crews, attacking outbreaks with borrowed equipment and sliding tanks.
“We are the ones on the floor,” Lalibre said Monday morning. “We see that these outbreaks occur at night. We see smoke during the day and you can’t sleep unless you turn off these hot fires.”
“This fire is in no way under control.”
Lalibre said that Muskeg’s fire continues to burn around the La Plonge and Beauval Lake. He has already destroyed sheds, cabins and a community canteen, but houses have not been lost. He proves the fire fighting efforts of local equipment, helicopters and equipment outside the province.
“We thought that the fire took us with us when the people crossed,” Lalibre said. “He’s in no way. He is still sinking.”
“We are trying to save everyone’s house. It’s not just a human habitat, we have all our relatives with whom we live here. And it is a heartbreaking to see why the bears, eagles, ducks, rabbits, alces,.”
Lalibre said that the fires are just a kilometer of beauval, with outbreaks that threaten the edge of the village. The residents were evacuated last week to Saskatoon and Moose Jaw. He is giving them daily updates through community radio and said it is too dangerous for anyone to return.
“I think the evacuees are eager to return home, but it is not safe,” he said.
He is also asking for a national strategy and a better federal response to forest fires of the North, saying that current emergency plans are outdated and lack sufficient coordination and support.
“We need trained personnel, modern teams and a better strategy to protect the north,” he said.
Île-à-la-Crosse declares the state of emergency
The people of île-à-La-Crosse officially declared an emergency state from the 3 PM CST on Monday, allowing the community to access the additional support and resources of forest fires through the Public Security Agency of Saskatchewan (SPSA).
Although there is no direct fire threat to the community at this time, officials are concerned about the worsening of air quality by the smoke of forest fires and the potential for access to the interrupted roads due to surrounding fires. The town is about 20 kilometers northwest of Beauval.
In a notice posted on Facebook, the Natawihin/Nakasuwenik clinic encouraged patients Priority 1 and Priority 2, including those with serious or complex medical conditions, to start preparing for a possible evacuation.
Residents are advised to choose to take enough medications, as well as any medical devices that may need during their stay in another place. The clinic remains open and will continue to offer a telephone appointment.
Until Monday at 7 PM CST, there were 50 forest fires throughout the province, according to the Public Security Agency of Saskatchewan. Only four were listed as content.
Updated information about active fires, smoke and related topics is available in these sources:
