Residents of Candle Lake prepare for evacuation

WATCH: Residents in La Ronge and first responders are facing new challenges in the midst of the ongoing wildfires.

Residents of Candle Lake are being asked to pack their bags as the Shoe fire, Saskatchewan’s largest, is within days of reaching the community.

In a news release Friday, a village spokesperson said the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has advised residents the Shoe fire is now 11 km away and is expected to reach the community within the next three to 10 days, depending on weather conditions.

“The SPSA has not issued a mandatory evacuation, however residents should be prepared as it appears imminent this will occur,” the Resort Village of Candle Lake said in an update sent shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Friday.

The Shoe fire is the biggest of six uncontained wildfires burning in northern Saskatchewan. It’s burned 471,418 hectares so far since it first ignited on May 7 — an area over 20 times the size of Saskatoon.

It has forced multiple communities to evacuate, including Lower Fishing Lake, Piprell Lake, East Trout Lake, Little Bear Lake, and Whiteswan/Whelan Bay.

Without a major rainfall soon, it looks like Candle Lake will be the next on that list.

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The village is one of the fastest growing resort communities in the province with a sizeable year-round population — growing nearly 40 per cent between 2016 and 2021 to 1,160 people, according to census data.

Provincial firefighters have implemented various protective actions to mitigate potential damage to the community, including clearcutting fire breaks around some subdivisions, and carrying flammable items like firewood away from properties.

Ground and air crews continue active suppression efforts, the village says. Residents are urged to stay informed through official channels and prepare for potential evacuation.

As of 11:30 a.m. Friday, 24 active fires were burning in northern Saskatchewan, with only three considered contained.

Provincial crews have been struggling to contain a number of other major wildfires across north-central Saskatchewan, including the Pisew fire (141,905.0 hectares), the Wolf fire (130,822.0 hectares), the Pelican 2 fire (30,428.0 hectares), the Club fire (22,000.0 hectares), and the Ditch fire (90,000.0 hectares).

Saskatchewan’s sole Liberal MP, Buckley Belanger, is set to join officials from Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in the community of Denare Beach on Friday to assess damage from the Wolf fire, MBC Radio reports.

Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation says it’s to help leaders better understand the situation on the ground and identify supports needed in the coming weeks.