Saskatoon takes in 250 Wollaston Lake fire evacuees

About 250 people will be calling Saskatoon's Cosmo Civic Centre home as a forest fire rips through Wollaston Lake and the Hatchet Lake First Nation, forcing approximately 1000 people to evacuate.

Families will eat, sleep and play at the recreation centre, which has been converted into an evacuation centre.

Cary Humphrey with the City of Saskatoon says several things have to happen before beds and tables are set up.

“First few steps are to certainly notify our user groups that they're going to be inconvenienced for a few days,” said Humphrey.

Deanna Wysoskey is with the social services ministry and says there are things the public can do to help.

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“They can volunteer with the Red Cross. Donations of cash are always helpful because the people will need many things when they get back home,” said Wysoskey.

Dozens of volunteers from the Salvation Army and Red Cross as well as some city staff will help evacuees feel as comfortable as they can.

“We like to serve people the foods that they're comfortable eating. We like to have people sleeping in an area that is as comfortable for them as we can make it,” said Wysoskey.

Wysoskey says it is unclear at this time how long the evacuees will stay, but Humphrey notes the city is able to keep the centre running as long as necessary.

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