A photo of the fire between Clearwater River Dene Nation and La Loche taken on May 3, 2023. (La Loche WildFire Update group/Facebook)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Dangerous Situation

Clearwater River sees 47 members evacuate due to wildfire, more expected to leave

May 4, 2023 | 11:37 AM

Nearly 50 members of the Clearwater River Dene Nation (CRDN) are currently staying in Meadow Lake and Lloydminster after evacuating their homes.

A wildfire is currently out of control between the First Nation and the Village of La Loche.

CRDN Councillor Roy Sean Cheecham told paNOW his community isn’t in danger at this time.

“The main reason for the evacuation is the access to the community, there’s one road in and out.”

The wildfire has already jumped Highway 955 with the public being asked to avoid the road. The road into CRDN has been closed off to the public, except for people who live in the community.

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Some members have chosen to stay behind since they’re not in danger of being trapped as they don’t necessarily need to use the main road.

However, there are still some in the community who are planning on evacuating today.

“There are two or three more buses we’re working on filling with as many (members) as we can,” added Cheecham.

He expects these buses can fill as many as 100 people.

Those who do choose to get on one of these buses will be driven to Lloydminster. The CRDN leadership is also planning on picking up everyone currently staying in Meadow Lake and bringing them to Lloydminster as well.

Meanwhile, Cheecham said he’s optimistic all members will be back home very soon.

While the fire is still considered out of control by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), he explained firefighters have done a great job stopping it from rapidly spreading.

If things get worse, the SPSA plans on supporting the community and its evacuating members.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow