Update: A critical alert was issued at 6:09 p.m. on Monday ordering an evacuation that wildfire has breached the La Ronge airport. The Saskatchewan Provincial Emergency Communications Centre indicates that the wildfire is fast moving and residents in La Ronge, Air Ronge, Eagle Point, Lamp Lake, Rabbit Creek, Potato Lake must start evacuation immediately. This is in addition to earlier initiated evacuations. The Critical Alert impacts La Ronge and within a 20 kilometre radius. The SPSA says individuals that can self-evacuate and find their own accommodations must use Highway #2 and register at the Days Inn in Prince Albert.
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Several communities in the La Ronge area have been ordered to evacuate including Wadin Bay, English Bay, the Nemeiben subdivision and Hall Lake.
The Pisew fire is now only 16 kilometres northwest of La Ronge. Residents of La Ronge, Air Ronge and Lac La Ronge are being told to prepare in case an evacuation order is issued. Stanley Mission is also on stand-by notice. Residents are being told to pack a bag of essentials and make sure their vehicle is full of gas.
Steve Roberts is the Vice President of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency. He says people need to check the Highway Hotline to determine if fire is impacting secondary highways or even Highway Two South. If the road to Prince Albert is impacted, the evacuation may have to move west.
About 8,000 people have been evacuated from 22 communities. Some evacuees have expressed concerns about the process, which is being handled by multiple agencies such as the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, the Red Cross and various First Nations.
Roberts says efforts continue to arrange additional accommodations if more evacuations are required.
There are 18 active fires, including six that are not contained. The Shoe Fire—in the Lower Fishing Lake and Candle Lake areas—has grown to over 400,000 hectares or nearly 1-million acres.
Conditions are cooler this week for firefighters—but it remains windy. There is some rain in the forecast for the weekend, but amounts may only be in the 10 to 15 millimetres.
