By Nigel Maxwell

Northern community says provincial policy out of date

Jun 16, 2011 | 11:37 AM

Locals say a massive forest fire that threatened two Northern Saskatchewan communities could have been prevented.

Those words are from Ed Benoanie, with the Hatchet Lake First Nation.

“We can get our picks and axes and shovels and go out on the fire line and try to put it out. We could have done that, but they wouldn't let us do it because we weren't trained to fight fire,” said Benoanie.

Earlier this month nearly 1,200 people from Wollaston Lake and Hatchet Lake First Nation were evacuated to Prince Albert and Saskatoon.

Only a handful of people remained behind to help fight the fire, which eventually grew to about the same size as the city of Moose Jaw.

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Benoanie said valuable money and time was wasted on waiting for the water bombers and the evacuation planes.

“We need to train these people in general. We are looking to create employment.This fire could have been preventable,” said Benoanie.

The First Nation plans to write a letter to the province in the coming weeks discussing their concerns.

nmaxwell@panow.com