By Glenn Hicks

No further growth in Pelican Narrows wildfires

Sep 1, 2017 | 2:00 PM

After days of anxiety there’s some better news for residents and firefighters embroiled in the Pelican Narrows wildfires.

Officials said the latest weather conditions have helped keep the three uncontrolled blazes in the region “stable” while allowing crews to make some headway.

“There’s been no significant increases in size or new threats,” Steve Roberts with Wildfire Management said in a conference call Friday. “Crews have been able to gain some significant controls.”

These included making progress around Jan Lake which is directly threatened by fire and around Pelican Narrows where smoke remains the main threat.

“Dozer lines and sprinkler systems around Jan Lake subdivision have been completed and we’ve also secured the flank of the fire that’s the closest piece to Pelican Narrows,” Roberts said.

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That fire is three kilometers north of the community, and 150 personnel are backed up by fifteen helicopters and seven pieces of heavy equipment. Officials said the full complement of aerial assets like air tankers were available if needed. No properties have been lost so far.

Most of the residents of Pelican Narrows have now been evacuated with just 350 remaining.

Deanna Valentine with Emergency Social Services said a total of 2,117 people have now registered as evacuees from the affected communities and 1,206 have come to Prince Albert, while the rest went to Saskatoon. At least 500 are in P.A. hotels which reached capacity Thursday. Many others are with family and friends.

Schooling options pondered for evacuated children

Attention is turning to educational needs for evacuated children with the new school year set to start.

Valentine said there had been no requests for standby schooling at this stage, but plans are in place if need be.

“If the event goes on beyond next week we can bring in substitute teachers to Prince Albert and Saskatoon where we can have areas to set up classrooms,” she said.

There have been reports some teachers in Sandy Bay have not been able to get back to the community as the highways remain closed.

Duane McKay, the Commissioner of Emergency Management, said they can accommodate that.

“It’s pretty hard to determine when this event will be over as it’s largely weather driven,” he said. “Not withstanding that though, if there is essential personnel who are required back in the communities we have the protocol to allow that.”

Some basic grocery supplies have been sent to Sandy Bay north of Pelican Narrows as they were running low but officials said there was no need for an organized donation drive.

Glenn.Hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: princealbertnow