Three buses of evacuees left Hall Lake for Prince Albert on Tuesday. (Facebook/Cook-Searson Tammy Jim)

By Derek Cornet

wildfires

Hall Lake evacuees find refuge in Prince Albert

May 17, 2023 | 3:43 PM

A partial evacuation of Hall Lake, which began Tuesday afternoon, has resulted in 233 residents leaving for Prince Albert.

“We did have a concern with the fire yesterday. We had a crossover with the heat and humidity, which made the fire burn really hot. It was ranked Level 6, which is the hottest that a fire burns,” said Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson.

“It was coming towards the community, so we were concerned that we might have had to do a general evacuation, but because it cooled down so much yesterday evening, it really slowed down the fire. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) was able to get up late in the evening and have a look at the fire from the air, and then they let us know that it wasn’t an immediate threat to the community.”

Those evacuated included chronic asthmatic clients, prenatal women, children under five years old and Elders in the communities of Hall Lake, Sikachu, Clam Bridge, Partridge Crop and Besnard Lake. They are currently staying in hotels in Prince Albert with assistance from the Red Cross and Prince Albert Grand Council First Nations Emergency Management.

The Wistigo Lake fire is one of five uncontained fires burning in Saskatchewan and it is currently 22 kilometers from Hall Lake. Cook-Searson noted firefighters are on the scene and plans are being made on how to respond. She said the cooler weather that moved in overnight is helping to slow down the fire and decrease its intensity.

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“Our top priority is making sure community members are safe. We are really grateful for all the work from all the communities. Even in Hall Lake, they are looking after the homes of the people who have left, and making sure we have security and pets are being fed,” Cook-Searson said.

“They are also setting up some sprinkler systems in the community there in case the fire decides to move in again. We are getting as prepared as can be. We have a lot of people mobilized right now, so we are really grateful and even here we set up our command centre at the band office.”

Air scrubbers have also either been set up or will be set up soon in Grandmother’s Bay, Hall Lake, Little Red, Stanley Mission, Sucker River and La Ronge’s Jonas Robertson Memorial Community Centre for those needing fresh air.

As of May 16, the SPSA has issued a provincial fire ban for Crown lands, provincial parks, and the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District north of Highway 16. It includes open fires, controlled burns, and fireworks.

A special air quality statement from Environment Canada remains in effect as smoke is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility. Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno