Saskatchewan RCMP say their officers will remain in fire affected communities and are the final people to leave a community alongside firefighters.  RCMP say officers are responding to calls for service in northern Saskatchewan communities – including in the La Ronge and Creighton detachment areas, which have been heavily impacted by wildfire.

That includes officers regularly patrolling communities that are evacuated. Saskatchewan RCMP reports two people have been charged in connection to thefts reported in evacuated areas.

On Wednesday, RCMP were notified a vehicle had been stolen from a residence in La Ronge. The vehicle was located later that day at a check point on Highway #2.  Waskesiu RCMP officers located and seized a laptop and package from the vehicle while also locating mail that allowed them to connect the recovered items to a theft reported in La Ronge last Tuesday.

Two occupants of the vehicle, both males from La Ronge, were arrested, charged and are before the courts.

Due to the fires, RCMP has also redirected approximately 29 officers who were scheduled to assist at the upcoming G7 meeting to help here in Saskatchewan.

The national police service is described as one piece of the massive response to the fires. Mayor Joe Hordyski of La Ronge, who stayed in the community alongside other essential workers, says RCMP officers knocked on his door and let him know there was fire coming up from behind his house.  The officers conducting patrols in the La Ronge detachment area noticed a fire flare up near the industrial area of the town and let the fire crews know right away, which Mayor Hordyski says resulted in a fast response.