‘Gone around’: Beauval, Sask. may be spared from worst of Muskeg wildfire, SPSA says

WATCH: Video from the scene of a wildfire near Beauval, Sask. show flames approaching the local highway.

The temperature has gone down in Beauval, Saskatchewan since 560 residents were forced from their homes by wildfire Thursday afternoon, but provincial fire officials say the heat is still on.

During a press conference on Friday, Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency official Steve Roberts said the shift in winds that brought flames to the community’s doorstep from the north was unexpected.

“We monitor the weather consistently, and the long term, for the full day, winds were to be from the west, heading east,” he said.

“A small system passed south of the Beauval area, and because of that pressure change, it actually brought winds down into more of a southeast flow.”

• Get the latest news from Saskatchewan, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

Roberts said the weather system passed in about eight hours, and firefighters were able to contain the damage to a vehicle and a canteen building in the recreation grounds on the northern edge of the community.

Evacuees sent to the Travelodge in Saskatoon spent Thursday night in disbelief.

“We never thought it would hit Beauval, but it did,” resident Linda Bonneau told CTV News.

Tony Alcrow spent much of the last month on vacation before he was told he couldn’t go back home.

“It’s kind of disappointing. I miss my stuff. Hoping my house doesn’t get burned down. I’m just praying day by day that the fires are gone and rain comes by,” he said.

“That fire has completely gone around the town now, and the crews are continuing to mop that up,” he said.

Provincial firefighters had taken defensive measures before the fire arrived, says Roberts, including running a sprinkler system around the village, and stationing guards around town with access to heavy equipment.

At this point, firefighters are tackling hot spots along the fire’s path around the village.

Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan’s public safety minister, said a significant amount of resources and personnel were committed to defend Beauval.

“There has been an incredible number of resources, including emergency personnel, air assets, heavy equipment and value protection assets used to protect the community of Beauval,” he said.

“The bravery and dedication of this work deserves our respect and support.”

Roberts said it will be at least a couple of days before anyone the community can be repatriated, and lingering heavy smoke in the area will keep those with health risks away longer still.

With no rain in the forecast for the village in the near future — it’s too soon to tell when it will be safe to return.

Highway 918 — the road in and out of Beauval from the south — is still passable, according to Roberts.

Evacuees have been sent to Saskatoon and Moose Jaw, as Roberts said North Battleford was unable to accommodate evacuees for more than one day.

As of Friday afternoon, there were 57 wildfires active in the province, according to the SPSA’s website. Five are considered contained, 14 are not contained, 21 are subject to ongoing assessments while protecting values are the priority in 17 blazes.

Including Beauval, five communities are currently under an evacuation order. Roberts said there are currently 925 evacuees in the province.

-With files from Keenan Sorokan, Stacey Hein and David Prisciak