‘I thought we’d have help’: Denare Beach resident criticizes provincial wildfire response

The remains of Dustin Trumbley's home in Denare Beach, Sask. (Courtesy: Joanne Churchill)

Dustin Trumbley’s home in Denare Beach was destroyed by the wildfire which devastated his community. He’s now speaking out, voicing his disappointment with the province’s response to the fires.

“I lost a lot of mementos from my grandfather. It bugs me to this day. I should have got more out, but I thought we’d have help,” Trumbley said at an NDP event Monday.

The Opposition event criticized the Sask. Party for hosting an upcoming golf tournament fundraiser at Elk Ridge - not far from active wildfires and areas that are still reeling from their effects.

The Sask. Party responded, noting that the NDP have also held fundraisers throughout the summer months.

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Trumbley shared his experience as an evacuee, noting that he is lucky enough to have family to stay with while he navigates the lengthy process of rebuilding his home, but many others aren’t as lucky.

“I don’t want to see it happen to you or your family ... We should not be at fault because I was born and raised in the North ... and that’s how I feel, like we were forgotten about and abandoned,” Trumbley said.

After a summer plagued by wildfires and air quality warnings, Premier Scott Moe and the Minister responsible for the SPSA, Tim McLeod, visited La Loche and Beauval to meet with local leaders and visit SPSA facilities.

In a statement provided to CTV News, the province highlighted a task force assembled in June, to assist residents in Trumbley’s community.

“The task force includes dedicated representatives from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), Ministry of Government Relations, Social Services, Environment and SGI,” the statement read.

“This joint effort has allowed the task force and communities to accelerate the achievement of multiple milestones, including establishing a Community Resiliency Centre in Denare Beach for individuals and families, clearing debris from properties and removing hundreds of lost vehicles.”

But Trumbley expressed that this action comes much later than he would have liked to see, and he will be tentatively waiting to see how the province responds next wildfire season.

“I would really like to know for next time, that I know that the government and their programs will be in place to make sure that there will be help in place, that this will never happen again,” he said.

“That’s all I’ve ever asked.”