By Bryan Eneas and Taylor MacPherson

Elders moved from Pelican Narrows, Sandy Bay due to wildfires

Aug 29, 2017 | 10:42 AM

A wildfire burning in north-eastern Saskatchewan has closed a highway, blocked a well-trafficked northern route between Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and led to a partial evacuation of the communities of Sandy Bay and Pelican Narrows.

Highway 106 is currently closed east of the Highway 135 junction due to two nearby wildfires. The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure said visibility is reduced by heavy smoke in the area and warned travellers to expect delays of up to six hours. Motorists heading to northern Manitoba by highway will have to make a significant southern detour and take Highway 9. Those turning north on Highway 135 to Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay were warned by the ministry to expect heavy smoke along the way.

Scott Wasylenchuk, director of wildfire operations with the Ministry of Environment, said despite multiple fire crews on the scene supported by helicopters and heavy equipment, both fires are expected to grow and the public is advised to avoid the area. While good progress has been made on the western fire, Wasylenchuk said the larger of the two has grown significantly and now stretches roughly 40km from east to west. Yesterday the fire crossed the highway, he said, and at last report covered an area of more than 44,000 hectares.

Although no communities are currently directly threatened by the fires, Wasylenchuk said one cabin has been lost.

According to Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Chief Peter Beatty, the local First Nation is not taking any chances.

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Beatty said the fires have led to the evacuation of elders and residents with medical conditions from the communities of Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay. A number of the northern residents are on dialysis or require regular medical appointments. Beatty said the band is taking a proactive approach to ensure their schedules are not interrupted.

“They’ll be transported today to Saskatoon and [Prince Albert], especially the chronic cases, which are priority one cases,” Beatty said. “Just for safety, in case the Pelican road, which is Highway 135, if there’s [access] problems created by that fire.”

Beatty said he would be partaking in conference calls with various health regions and the Ministry of Environment’s Wildfire Management Branch to determine out what the situation looks like today.

Bryan.eneas@jpbg.ca, Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas, @TMacPhersonNews