Forest fire forces hundreds from Stanley Mission

Smoke from a nearby forest fire approaches the northern Saskatchewan community of Stanley Mission. (Bernice Roberts)

More than 1,000 residents have been evacuated from the northern Saskatchewan First Nations community of Stanley Mission as a massive forest fire threatens to cut off the only road out of town.

While flames have not touched Stanley Mission yet -- officials say the fire is about five to 10 kilometres away -- a general evacuation order was issued on Saturday.

“It’s just for precautionary reasons. We wanted to make sure that if it did cross the road that we got people out safely,” said Tammy Cook-Searson, chief of the Lac la Ronge Indian Band.

The fire grew to 1,600 hectares between Friday and Saturday and it has continued to burn out of control since.

"We went to 5,000 hectares, it more than doubled, and the latest is that it’s grown to 6,400 hectares,” Cook-Searson said Sunday.

Fire crews were planning to work overnight Sunday in an attempt to stop the fire from cutting off the community

"We have fire crews, helicopters and an incident command team is managing this fire, and our air tankers are also working this fire out of  La Ronge," Steve Roberts, executive director of the Provincial Wildfire Centre, said Sunday.

Officials say the winds, combined with the hot and dry conditions, have made it difficult for crews to extinguish the blaze.

"This fire is active because we have a continued band of hot and dry weather and shifting winds in that area and currently no precipitation . . . expected in the next 24 to 36 hours," Roberts said.

Many of those who have been evacuated from Stanley Mission are staying at the Kinsmen/Henk Ruys Soccer Centre in Saskatoon while others were sent to Prince Albert.

“It’s been pretty hectic, a lot of smoke there, and I live by the river, so I see the open flames there,” said Jonas McLeod who is staying in Saskatoon

Crews have been working to install sprinkler systems on homes such as McLeod’s that run along the trees line.

"The areas that have potential of the fire coming into the community, the homes of the people are protected,” said Cook-Searson. She is hopeful residents may be able to return to their homes by Wednesday if the weather co-operates and conditions improve.

- with CTV News.ca files