Watch above: Wildfires raging in Saskatchewan’s north have forced more people from their homes and the hot, dry conditions aren’t expected to change soon. Amber Rockliffe tells us what areas are affected and how people are coping.
LA RONGE, Sask. – The Ministry of Environment is recommending no non-essential travel to the La Ronge area because of extreme wildfire hazards. The region where travel is not recommended also includes Air Ronge, Sucker River, Wadin Bay, Stanley Mission and Nemeiben.
The ministry is also recommending no travel north of La Ronge unless absolutely necessary.
The statement issued by the Ministry of Environment late Thursday stated, “People already in these areas are encouraged to relocate to a safer community not threatened by the current wildfire situation.”
A full evacuation has been issued for residents of Wadin Bay, Sucker River and English Bay.
Officials said there are several fires in the La Ronge region that may pose smoke and fire risks to the area and surrounding communities and sudden changes in wind direction could result in evacuation.
The ministry said within a six hour period Thursday, 5000 lightning strikes sparked an additional 42 fires in northern Saskatchewan.
“This heat wave we’ve seen across the province—unfortunately when it brings precipitation, it comes with unwelcome thunderstorms, and that has made our situation a lot worse,” explained Steve Roberts, executive director of the province’s Wildfire Management Branch.
“We’re currently looking at 436 fires year-to-date, as a reference, there was only 178 this time last year,” he said.
Roberts said there are currently 71 active wildfires burning in the province.
The government is bringing in aircraft from Quebec and a specialty fire crew from Manitoba to help fight the blazes.
A fire ban has also been issued for all provincial forests including all provincial parks and recreation sites in the northern portion of the province.
Campers are being relocated out of Nemeiben Lake and McKay Lake campgrounds.
READ MORE: Damaging effects of lightning in Saskatchewan
Lightning has been the primary ignition source for new fire starts this year.
This weekend temperatures are expected to soar into the low 30s with no major precipitation events in the forecast for the region for the rest of the month, so the situation is expected to only worsen in the coming days.
Amber Rockliffe contributed to this story
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