As wildfires burn in the province, flames have devastated a treasure in northern Saskatchewan. The Gem Lakes, a popular area for camping and hiking in Narrow Hills Provincial Park, have burned in the “Shoe” fire. The fire was reported on May 7 and has now spanned 14,500 hectares — or 145 kilometres squared, more than double the size of Prince Albert — according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA). “It’s been burning quite aggressively with the dry conditions and the wind that we’ve experienced over the last multiple days. That fire really took off (and) instantly presented a challenge for our suppression crews,” said Bryan Chartrand, executive director of land operations with the SPSA. Shelly Lawrence owns a nearby lodge. Lawernce said she was on her way home from picking her granddaughter up from school when she saw heavy smoke. “It was unreal smoke,” Lawrence said in an interview with CTV News. “Part of me wanted to go home because I knew it was probably pretty close, and part of me said ‘no, do a U-turn’ because my granddaughter was in the backseat.” Lawernce and her granddaughter fled the fire Thursday with just the clothes on their back while her husband grabbed what he could from their home and met up with them. She said it’s a stressful situation as the wildfire threatens “Rainbow Lodge,” which is her home and livelihood. The SPSA said it’s doing everything it can contain the fire. As of Tuesday morning there were 10 active fires in Saskatchewan – four of which were not contained. Meanwhile, Quebec is sending two water bombers to Saskatchewan, which will be deployed to the Meadow Lake area. But Chartrand said the waterbombers can be used to help fight other fires, if needed. As for Lawrence, she doesn’t know when she can come home, or what she’ll go back to. “I’m fearing that maybe I’ll see my place burned to the ground before I know my place burned to the ground on Facebook.”
