Forest fires burn remote cabins in northern Saskatchewan
Last Updated: Friday, July 7, 2006 | 9:44 AM ET
CBC News
Forest fires have consumed a handful of trappers' cabins in remote areas of northern Saskatchewan and more than 900 firefighters are trying to contain blazes that have spread a blanket of smoke over several communities.
Officials said forest fire hazards continued to be extreme in the northern half of the province on Friday. Crews were working to contain fires relatively close to the town of La Ronge and the village of Beauval.
About 116 forest fires were burning in Saskatchewan Friday. Four that started Thursday were quickly put out.
Forest fires have already forced 2,000 people from their homes in Saskatchewan.
(Tom Roberts/CBC)
Officials said that people with medical conditions, 12 in La Ronge and 71 from the community of Hall Lake, were taken to Saskatoon on Friday to avoid health problems that could have developed from the heavy smoke.
The weekend forecast calls for rain and officials said they hope it will dampen the blazes.
Heavy smoke prompted municipal officials in three northern communities Thursday to draw up plans to move out people with medical conditions.
Officials said they are continuing to keep a close eye on the smoke situation in La Ronge, the community of Air Ronge and surrounding First Nations communities. There is a fire about 10 kilometres from La Ronge near Nemeiben Lake and a fire about five kilometres from Beauval.
La Ronge is home to more than 3,000 people, while Air Ronge has about 800 people and Beauval has about 700 people. La Ronge is the largest community in northern Saskatchewan.
Colin King, spokesperson for the province's Emergency Management Organization, said the people most affected by smoke are those with respiratory problems, the chronically ill, the elderly and mothers with newborns.
Tammy Cook-Searson, chief of the Lac La Ronge Indian band, and the mayors of La Ronge and Air Ronge have been holding meetings to assess the situation.
Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and the Northwest Territories have sent firefighting crews and equipment to help with the firefighting effort.
More than 2,000 people in Saskatchewan have already been forced to leave their homes because of forest fires. Some have gone to La Ronge, while some are staying with relatives in other provinces.
People have been moved from the communities of English Bay, Wadin Bay, Sucker River, Stanley Mission, Grandmother's Bay and Nemeiben Lake.
Cook-Searson said losing a cabin is tough for a trapper.
"And that's really hard, too, because you go there, you live off the land, you have all your supplies and all your tools that you've accumulated over the years," she said.
Owners of the trappers' cabins, which are isolated, simple structures, have all been notified. Officials said no buildings have been lost in communities or subdivisions.
Smoke is visible outside of La Ronge, lingering in the trees for at least 130 kilometres along the main highway to the town.
Residents said it is hard to see and breathe. Some people in the area are putting cloths on their faces when they go outside.
