Top stories of 2015: #1 Fires ravage northern Saskatchewan for months

Our top story of 2015 was a three-month long ordeal, putting people on edge in the northern part of Saskatchewan and leading to thousands of evacuations.

In the beginning of June, 15 “uncontrollable” wildfires were reported ablaze in the Lakelands.

By June 6, those from northern Saskatchewan most at risk for health problems were evacuated to Prince Albert. Three days later, the cluster of fires taking over the area had grown to five times the size of Prince Albert.

On June 30, pilots flying water bombers and other service airplanes were grounded due to the smoke, which was beginning to encompass the entire province.

By the beginning of July, there were over 100 fires burning in northern Saskatchewan, many which were threatening populated communities.

Making a splash

P.A. Pikes sees numbers nearly double during 2023/24 season

May 02, 2024

Golden girl

'Super special': P.A.'s Zablocki reflects on Esso Cup win, reveals plans for next season

May 02, 2024

Court proceedings

'I didn't shoot anybody': testimony wraps up at Prince Albert murder trial

May 01, 2024

At one point, firesfighters near Montreal Lake, along with local leadership, had to be evacuated to avoid becoming stranded.

“With the winds coming up, fires are starting all over the place,” said Montreal Lake Cree Nation Chief Edward Henderson on July 3. “As I speak right now, probably 200 metres away from me is a flare up.”

In the evening of July 4, a general evacuation was called for Lac La Ronge Indain Band, Air Ronge and the city of La Ronge.

This resulted in the province’s largest-ever evacuation. In total, 12,000 people were displaced and up to 7,000 of those turned to the Red Cross and volunteers for help.

Evacuees were sent to Prince Albert, Saskatoon, North Battleford and Regina. Many were bused to Cold Lake, Alta. once local make-shift shelters had reached capacity.

With resources pushed to the limit, the province called for help from the federal government. Fires had increased to 23 times the size of Saskatoon.

On July 7, members of the military were deployed to the fire sights.

Ten days later, the mandatory evacuation for La Ronge and area came to an end. Within the next couple of days—and in some cases after over a month of being away from home—evacuees were given transported back to their home communities.

By the end of July, 200 troops transitioned out of northern Saskatchewan.

The aftermath

Once the majority of La Ronge and area residents were safely back home, northern leadership began to look back on procedure, and plan for the future.

“We’re going to have to take a review of the whole process,” La Ronge Mayor Thomas Sierzycki told paNOW July 19. 

One of the toughest effects has been the economic ramifications of closing local businesses during the evacuation.

Throughout the fire threat, both Sierzycki and LLRIB Chief Tammy Cook-Searson updated their communities through social media.

“I knew in disaster situations people look to Facebook, look to Twitter, at least look for their leadership giving them some insight,” said Sierzycki.

Following a meeting with Stephen Harper on July 25, Wall disclosed the cost of fighting the wildfires in 2015 would be upwards of $100 million.

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow