‘Turning a corner’: Some Saskatchewan wildfire evacuees returning home after rain-filled weekend aids firefighting

People stop along a highway as a large active wildfire fills the sky with smoke in the background in the La Ronge, Sask., area in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Residents of Pelican Narrows, Weyakwin and other northern Saskatchewan communities have been given the green light to return to their homes – as the province’s state of emergency due to wildfires enters its 12th day.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Minister of Public Safety Tim McLeod said repatriation efforts are moving along following a weekend of rainfall which offered a much-needed reprieve for fire crews.

The evacuation order for Weyakwin has been lifted. At the same time, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation announced Sunday that residents could begin returning to the community.

Additionally, Foran Mining facilities southwest of Creighton are no longer considered under threat. McLeod says the company is anticipating a full return to its mine in the area by Friday.

“We’re optimistic that more communities will indeed be returning home in the days and weeks ahead, and we look forward to that progress,” he said.

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Weyakwin, located 140 kilometres north of Prince Albert, was originally evacuated on May 31 due to the Ditch02 Fire. Saskatchewan RCMP have charged two suspects with arson in connection to that wildfire.

McLeod says the province has determined most of the wildfires currently burning out of control were caused by human activity.

“We know that virtually all, if not all, of the forest fires in Saskatchewan were human caused, and unfortunately, some of those were intentionally caused by humans,” he said.

There are 25 active wildfires in Saskatchewan as of Monday – with 256 recorded so far this year – smashing the five-year average of 145 by June 9.

The SPSA has confirmed 295 structures have been damaged or destroyed due to wildfires this season.

As of Monday, a total of 33 communities are on evacuation notice. According to the province, 10,262 people are being supported by the Canadian Red Cross – while 860 are being supported by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA).

An unknown number of residents have self-evacuated and are receiving intermittent supports while staying with family or friends.

Federal support

Responding to questions regarding federal aid – McLeod says the province is in constant communication with the federal government.

“This isn’t a situation where we’re not asking for assistance or they’re not offering assistance,” he explained. “It’s simply a situation where the needs that we have to align with what they’re offering and we continue to have those conversations daily to find that alignment.”

McLeod says the province has requested two base camps from the federal government - in addition to two tents for sheltering up to 200 people.

“Those base camps would be established for working crews as they go back into the communities they’re rebuilding,” he added.

“We’re now turning a corner, I would say, and optimistic. Still much work to be done, but preparing for that next phase, making sure that we are ahead of the cleanup efforts and the rebuilding efforts that we know are to come with that.”

Wildfires by the numbers

According to the SPSA’s Vice President of Operations Steve Roberts, several fires have merged. Such is the case with the Wolf, Club and Pelican2 Fires near Creighton and the Ditch02 and Shoe Fires north of Prince Albert.

Roberts says that the agency will continue referring to several of the fires by their current names due to the fact that the crews managing them are in seperate regions of the province.

“In some cases where the fires have merged, we’ve actually turned them into one fire, such as the Shoe Fire,” he explained.

“But there’s others ... such as the Ditch Fire and the Shoe Fire that we do not want to merge together because of logistical reasons ... so we’ve kept them separate, even though their borders touch at some point.”

Shoe Fire

Remaining the largest blaze in the province, the Shoe Fire has surpassed an estimated 500,000 hectares. Highways 912 and 913 have remained closed due to the blaze.

About 22 millimetres of rain fell on parts of the Shoe Fire over the weekend, which aided firefighting efforts.

JaySmith Fire

The JaySmith Fire has grown to 139,000 hectares, No highways are currently affected.

Ditch02 Fire

Highway 969 remains closed due to the Ditch Fire, which has grown to 153,000 hectares. The village of Weyakwin, originally evacuated due to the Ditch Fire, is now seeing residents return.

Pisew Fire

The Pisew Fire, which has threatened the La Ronge area, is currently estimated at 181,000 hectares. Highway 2 north and Highway 102 north near La Ronge have been intermittently closed.

Wolf Fire

The Wolf Fire, located west of Denare Beach, is estimated to cover 130,000 hectares. Highway 167, 106 and the Highway 135 junction are closed due to the flames.

Pelican2 Fire

The Pelican2 Fire, located north of Pelican Narrows, is estimated to be 34,000 hectares. Access to Highway 135 has been restored - and residents are in the process of returning.

Club Fire

Located over the Saskatchewan and Manitoba border near Creighton and Flin Flon, 17,000 hectares fall within Saskatchewan. The fire totals 60,000 hectares.