As hundreds of Canadian Forces troops joined the effort to fight wildfires in northern Saskatchewan, the province’s premier said he is “cautiously optimistic” the “unprecedented” crisis can be brought under control.
Brad Wall spoke to reporters Wednesday afternoon in Regina, where he had just toured an evacuation centre hosting some of the more than 13,000 residents forced from at least 54 communities.
Wall said the good news is that changing wind directions mean blowing smoke from fires is no longer reducing visibility to the point that pilots can’t take off.
“We really haven’t had many days when we could fully deploy all the choppers that we have, all the air tankers that we have, all the fire retardant carrying planes that we have,” he said.
The bad news, according to Wall, is that rising temperatures are making it more difficult to fight the flames.
Wall said the difficultly fighting the fires by air was the reason he called Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Saturday to request help.
Hundreds of troops joined the fight Wednesday against more than 100 wildfires, which have already consumed more than 4,000 square-kilometres.
Early Wednesday morning, a Canadian Armed Forces’ convoy was seen rolling through the streets of Prince Albert, Sask., where troops are receiving emergency firefighting training prior to deployment.
Hot, dry conditions have caused wildfires across the west, including in Alberta, Northwest Territories and British Columbia, where more than 30 ignited on Tuesday alone.
Gov. Gen. David Johnston also stopped Wednesday at the main Regina shelter, to speak with evacuees and offer “solidarity.”
“This is one of those tragic events of nature that is really quite dramatic of scale and scope,” he said.
“Having arrived here I’m just so struck by how important and substantial and caring the has been the response.”
Battle for La Ronge
Wall said he is also working with the chief of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band to identify local people who – with some training – may be able help fight the fire from the ground.
Lac La Ronge is one of the main battlegrounds, as flames from out-of-control fires inch closer to town. Approximately 95 per cent of the community near La Ronge has been evacuated.
Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson told CTV News that four out of the six communities in La Ronge are in direct threat of fire.
She said officials are trying their best to keep in contact with welfare management to let evacuees know “what’s happening” at home.
“It’s been a really challenging time but we are trying to work through the issues,” Cook-Searson said, adding the community is “really grateful” for offers of assistance from First Nations and other communities.
There is still no timeline on when evacuees, many of whom are in emergency shelters, may be allowed to return.
The Canadian Red Cross has been providing emergency shelter housing for evacuees, as well as emergency services for people who may be staying with friends or family, or in hotels.
The Saskatchewan government said Wednesday afternoon that a total of 7,868 residents are receiving emergency support across the province. Some residents are just arriving at shelters, while others are moving out of the shelter system to stay with family or friends.
Also on Wednesday, the federal government announced it was providing further emergency assistance by sending beds, pillows and towels to evacuation centres in Regina, Prince Albert, La Ronge, Saskatoon, as well as High Level and Cold Lake, Alta. The supplies are provided by the federal government’s National Emergency Strategy Stockpile program.
Health Canada is also providing public nurses to support regional health authorities in the affected locations.
Evacuees in Alberta
Approximately 800 evacuees from northern Saskatchewan have been sent to Cold Lake in neighbouring Alberta, where Red Cross set up a large emergency shelter earlier this week.
Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland said 675 evacuees are registered inside the shelter, while another 100 or so are scattered throughout the city.
Firefighters, city staff and First Nations are pitching in to assist the Red Cross.
Copeland said the big challenge right now is keeping the young children at the evacuation centre busy, while trying to reassure those at the shelter that “things will get better.”
There have been some earlier complaints of a food and supplies shortage at Cold Lake, but Jean-Pierre Taschereau, of the Red Cross, said that the organization is working hard to meet the need.
“Everyone has a bed, has a blanket and are receiving three meals a day,” Taschereau told CTV’s Canada AM, adding “we’re working hard to improve living conditions every day.”
He said most people had to leave at a moment’s notice, and only left with a small bag and basic medicines.
At this point, Red Cross said the most pressing need is having military firefighters protect the infrastructure “so these people can go home as soon as possible.”
Gov. Gen. David Johnston and his wife Sharon will travel to Regina Wednesday afternoon to visit with those affected by the wildfires in Saskatchewan.
