REGINA – There are four factors working against crews battling the wildfires in Northern Saskatchewan: strong winds, low humidity, high temperatures and potential lightning strikes.
The province has seen 611 fires this year – more than three times the normal average. Four cabins burned down Friday night south of La Loche, bringing the total number of structures lost to 66.
With additional fires popping up every day, it’s tough for crews to stay on top of them.
“The fire conditions in front of us will produce a very, very large amount of smoke across the full response zone today (Saturday),” said Steve Roberts with wildfire management. “Smoke loads in some communities will be extremely heavy, to the point where we will not be able to fly aircraft.”
Some northern communities are not immediately in harm’s way and those residents are now anxious to get home. That’s why the province is setting up a convoy to lead them through the fire zones.
“Starting today we will be looking at allowing convoys through some of that area, recognizing that there is still some threat to Highway 2,” said emergency management commissioner Duane McKay. “Fires are popping up along the highway.”
Highways 2 and 102 remain closed to the public, but residents and supply trucks will be given special access.
“We want to make very clear that we’re only allowing permanent residents back to these communities. We’re not allowing people from communities where evacuation orders are still in effect,” said highways and infrastructure representative Joel Cherry.
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The province expects up to 150 people from communities like Missinipe, Otter Rapids, Brabant, Southend and Athabasca to take advantage of the opportunity.
To take part in the convoy, residents needed to meet at the roadblock on Highway 2 south of Air Ronge before 6 p.m. Saturday.
As those residents head home, military personnel in Prince Albert are preparing to relieve their counterparts.
“A third of them are support people, but we will give them the training so they will be able to spell off the guys on the front line,” said Roberts.
Another 23 firefighting specialists have also landed in Saskatchewan and will help build a strategy to prevent the fires from doing any more damage.
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