Fire officials say a growing blaze is within five kilometres of the northern Saskatchewan town of La Loche, but it is not considered an imminent threat.
The fire, which started Monday because of a lightning strike, is on the other side of Saleski Lake, just northeast of the community.
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Steve Roberts, the province’s executive director of wildfire management, says crews have created controlled burns and have put in catlines to stop the fire spreading south.
Roberts says to be an imminent threat, they would have to determine that crews would not be able to stop the fire from encroaching the community.
He says by eliminating the fuel for the fire through controlled burns, and the fact that a lake doesn’t provide any timber for a fire to grow, that there is no immediate danger for La Loche residents.
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The weekend forecast is also positive, with expectations the wind will be flowing north, which will push smoke away from the community.
As a precaution, La Loche’s community airport has been restricted and government officials are on the ground talking with community leaders about possible evacuation plans should the situation change.
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