By Alex Soloducha

VIDEO: Fires intensify causing highway closures and more evacuations

Jun 28, 2015 | 5:18 PM

Montreal Lake residents are hoping to save their homes as fire enters the town site.

“It’s really bad and we are trying to get people out of the community as fast as we can,” said Montreal Lake Cree Nation councillor Roger Bird.  

Still, some residents haven’t given up the fight.

“A lot of people will stay back and try and save their homes, like what I’m doing right now,” said Bird. “I’m going to try and stick around as long as I can.”

According to Bird, everyone has been evacuated that was willing to go. There are no current numbers, but about 250 people left yesterday, and more were bused out today.

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About 100 meters from the fire, Bird described the current situation on the outskirts of town.

“It’s very hot, very hot… and scary,” he said. “It jumped both roads already, the 969 and the old 969.”

Bird said the fire crews are working on minimizing destruction.

“I’m sure they’re doing all they can,” he said. “It’s a scary situation right now.”

“Hopefully we can save the homes and nothing gets burnt up and nobody gets hurt.”

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Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson posted on Facebook Sunday evening calling for another evacuation in the area of Grandmother’s Bay. 

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Highway closures and smoke warning

Corey Ecarnot, operations manager for La Ronge EMS, said Highway 2 south of La Ronge, around the Weyakwin area, has been closed. Along with that, the 969 (known as the Molanosa Highway) and Highway 102 north of La Ronge are closed at this time due to an increased threat. RCMP report that Highway 914 leading to Pinehouse is also closed due to a forest fire at Musqua Lake, approximately 20 km south of Pinehouse.

“The fire threat into those communities in those areas obviously remains high,” said Ecarnot. “The majority of the communities have been evacuated so the only people that should be in those areas are the ground firefighters that are trying to protect the value of the homes that are out there.”

With fires surrounding the area, smoke has moved into the communities of La Ronge, according to Ecarnot.

“There’s always a risk when there’s smoke but right now La Ronge and area has not declared a state of emergency and they are working with officials to monitor the smoke but as of right now there is no evacuation or mandatory evacuation for La Ronge and area.”

Ecarnot warned those with increased risk of health problems or respiratory issues to monitor the smoke in their area as well as their health. He suggests they stay indoors with windows closed until the smoke dissipates.

“If they do have any health concerns they can call the Health Line at 811 or can contact the local hospital as well.”

There’s a special air quality statement in effect for Prince Albert and area as well as the North due to widespread smoke across northern and central Saskatchewan.

According to the Environment Canada website, “Smoke near the ground may cause potentially high health risk conditions. The smoke is expected to persist over the next couple of days.”

Evacuees settle in Saskatoon

Deanna Wysoskey, emergency social services coordinator with the Ministry of Social Services said new evacuees have been relocated to North Battleford, Prince Albert and Saskatoon.

The trip was long and hard for many of the evacuees, but they came out safe.

“I’m just happy that I’m alive,” Belinda Montgrand said.

Montgrand and many members of her community in La Loche were evacuated around 4 p.m. on Saturday.

However the bus that Montgrand was on broke down and the group didn’t arrive in Saskatoon until 1 a.m. Sunday morning.

Norman Jamder was on that bus as well, and remembers what conditions were like before they left La Loche.

“There [was] big fire around us,” Jamder said. “The last few days we have a lot of smoke in town there.”

They said about “half of La Loche” was evacuated but the journey was not easy.  

“Ten hours and they didn’t have a meal for us. I don’t know why they didn’t bring food for people… no food for the 10 hour drive with all the kids,” he said.

They both added they were lucky to be safe.

With files from CKOM reporter Kelly Malone.

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asoloducha@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha