Emergency management officials say firefighters are working to secure a wildfire that’s a direct threat to the community of Pinehouse in northern Saskatchewan. Duane McKay says the fire is within two kilometres of the community.
He also says two fires have merged into a 950-square-kilometre blaze within two kilometres of La Ronge, making the fire five-and a-half times the size of Saskatoon.
“It is likely some of these fires that are very large will continue to burn though the summer,” said McKay.
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The mayor of La Ronge, Thomas Sierzychi, said the sky crane helicopter was able to drop 90 loads of water on the fire Thursday.
Trained crews and 100 volunteers are currently working to protect Montreal Lake, where seven structures have been lost.
Canadian Forces personnel are working on the La Ronge and Montreal Lake fires.
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There are currently 119 active wildfires in the province. So far this year, there have been 604 wildfires compared to 202 at this time last year.
Firefighters have been working 12 straight days battling the blazes before taking a mandatory two days off. This cycle has been ongoing for five weeks.
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Only one millimeter of rain fell on La Ronge overnight, making it extremely smoky in the area, which will affect aircraft flying on Friday.
Environment Canada says visibility in the area is less than a kilometer and a special air quality statement remains in place for all of northern Saskatchewan.
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Smoke from the wildfires is expected to spread into the northern grainbelt later Friday, with the dense smoke persisting into Saturday.
McKay says the priority is to return the 10,000 people forced out of their homes to their communities, but only when it’s safe to do so.
Officials said local leaders are facing serious pressure from residents wanting to go home, potentially before it is safe to do so. There is concern people will return to their homes when the conditions are volatile and then have to evacuate again.
With files from Global’s Sarah Kraus and The Canadian Press
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