Minister Blaney visits Prince Albert to discuss fires

According to Blaney, the priority of our government is to be fully supportive of the effort of the Saskatchewan government and to support the community.

“We are here and we are going to be ready,” Blaney said. “This situation could go for a while, but I just want to reassure, with the support of the Canadian Armed Forces, minister Kenney is fully behind the troops.”

“We will support the community that is impacted by these forest fires.”

He said they were briefed by a colonel who gave an overview of military involvement.

“The first firefighters have already been here for six weeks and it’s tough,” said Blaney. “What I’m pleased to see is the integration of the Canadian Armed Forces with the skilled, expert firefighters.”

Blaney said they aren’t making the decisions in terms of exactly where the troops are hitting the fire lines.

“We are taking our marching orders from the Government of Saskatchewan,” he said.

When asked about if the Canadian Government is prepared to help fund firefighting efforts, Blaney said they have a disaster funding financial agreement which still stands and has been in place for a decade.

Next, he said he’ll be heading to La Ronge to check out the situation. They’re also monitoring the fires in Alberta and B.C. and will assist if needed there.

Jim Reiter, minister of government relations in Saskatchewan said the response from the Canadian government has been ‘incredible’.

He also said he’s impressed with how well the Canadian Military and Wildfire Management have integrated.

“Certainly people are the most important issue here,” said Reiter. “With the military arriving it’s a relief, frankly, and as I said, it’s good to see how closely the military and the wildfire folks are working together.”

Reiter visited evacuation centres in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina and even Cold Lake, Alta.

“We have a very serious situation [in the north], as you all know, and a lot of people have been displaced,” Reiter said. “We have thousands of people in evacuation centres around the province.”

The number of people has been estimated between 10,000 and 12,000, many aching to go home.

“We understand the stress that they’re going through,” said Reiter. “My heart goes out to them, it’s difficult for them but, you know, they’re being very well cared for, they’re in good facilities.”

“The Red Cross and, as I mentioned, our social services folks, are doing a great job making sure everybody’s safe and warm.”

Reiter said those allies have been offering mental health counselling at many facilities. He also said evacuees must be patient and remember firefighters are working as quick as they can so that people can return home as soon as possible.

Touching on recent information on fires lasting until winter, Reiter acknowledged weather has a huge impact on fire activity.

“We hope it doesn’t take that long,” he said. “A great rain would be immensely helpful.”

Steve Roberts, executive director of wildfire management for the ministry of environment, touched on this as well. He said they likely won’t be able to cool every hectare of every fire. This means, they’ll eventually rely on the cooler fall weather to completely snub them.

Roberts said they’ll continue to do what they can, keeping up with intensive planning.

“We’re halfway through the fire season.”

With hundreds of volunteer firefighters entering condensed (five day) training, Roberts said it’s important everyone takes the most thorough training possible, even in these extreme times.

“We cannot just have a volunteer without training, including safety training, go out on the fire lines, it just is not safe for them,” he said.

He is still unsure whether a call for more volunteers will be put out.

“We can only integrate work forces that we can support, supply and protect from these wildfires,” he said.

They need enough air support and personal tools to issue to each firefighter. So far, people have been stepping up locally, provincially and there have even been international offers of assistance. Roberts said they will go through offers, assess them and contact people based on convenience and availability.

Volunteers currently in training will be moved into paid positions on the front fire lines as soon as their training sessions are complete.

asoloducha@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha

by Alex Soloducha

Minister Blaney visits Prince Albert to discuss fires

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