REGINA – As wildfire evacuation centres in Saskatchewan’s largest cities near capacity, the Canadian Red Cross is exploring options to welcome people into other facilities.
By Wednesday afternoon, the number of registered people forced out of their northern Saskatchewan homes due to wildfires reached 4,878: 1,816 in Prince Albert, 1,515 in Regina, 1,100 in Saskatoon and 447 in North Battleford.
At Regina’s Evraz Place, capacity for evacuees is roughly 1,600.
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Cindy Fuchs, the Red Cross’ Saskatchewan director, says schools are being considered for an overflow of evacuees, but it’s more likely the organization would find new shelters.
“To put in the time and effort to set up a congregate site, we need a place for at least 500 people,” Fuchs said. “We’re looking at all options like that outside Regina, Prince Albert and Saskatoon.”
No other communities were named and neighbouring provinces may also help out.
Fuchs says the organization needs to consider where evacuees are coming from originally and if there is bus service to get them to a new location, as well as the ability to feed people and have enough volunteers.
Evacuees are from Beauval, Buffalo Narrows, Clearwater River Dene, Grandmother’s Bay, La Loche, La Ronge, Montreal Lake, Stanley Mission, Sucker River, Timber Lake, Turner Lake and Weyakwin. They’re being provided food, clothing and cots as well as other basics like diapers.
Red Cross officials expect to provide an update at 1 p.m. Thursday.
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