First Nations plead for help as wildfires devastate northern Sask.
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People with property in northeast Saskatchewan as well as the Official Opposition, are calling on the government to declare a provincial state of emergency amid a rapidly escalating, early wildfire season.
On Wednesday, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and Montreal Lake Cree Nation declared a joint state of emergency. In light of the severity of the wildfire situation, First Nations leaders said in a press release that they have "deep concerns" over critical shortages in firefighting resources, personnel and air support.
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Wildfires detected on May 29. (The Weather Network)
The declaration demands direct meetings with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, federal ministers, and members of Parliament.
"We are urgently calling on Premier Scott Moe and Prime Minister Mark Carney to deploy more firefighting personnel, increase air support — including water bombers — and ensure emergency accommodations for evacuees," said Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte of the Prince Albert Grand Council.
Chief Peter A. Beatty of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation said in the press release that many First Nations communities are becoming boxed in due to road closures and limited evacuation routes.
"We are doing everything possible on the ground, but this situation is beyond our capacity to manage alone," said Beatty.
Late on Wednesday, the community of Weyakwin, on Highway 2 west of Montreal Lake, issued an evacuation order.
Wildfire activity detected on Wednesday, May 28. (The Weather Network)
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East Trout Lake suffers substantial loss
Nathan Pitka is one of many who wants a provincial state of emergency declared.
Two fires that have been burning in the Narrow Hills Provincial Park area — the Camp fire and Shoe fire — have merged into the largest fire in the province. That fire prompted an evacuation order in the Resort Subdivision of East Trout Lake, where his cottage is located.
On Wednesday, East Trout Lake, located approximately 160 kilometres southeast of La Ronge, declared a state of emergency. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said East Trout Lake has received "substantial loss."
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Pitka fled to stay with his parents in Saskatoon on Monday. He told CBC he believes his cabin burned down, but does not yet have confirmation. His family has been going there for 48 years.
Pitka wrote a letter to Moe, who has yet to publicly speak on the wildfire crisis, asking for more communication and for help to be brought in.
"I wrote the letter because no one else was saying what urgently needed to be to be said. I mean, we're watching communities burn in real time," Pitka said.
"It felt like the rest of the province didn't even know this was happening. So I just thought I needed to say something."
Drone footages shows the burned remains of cabins at East Trout Lake. (Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency)
At last count, the Shoe fire covered 216,000 hectares.
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When Whiteswan Lake, 130 kilometres northeast of Prince Albert, was evacuated on Monday, Walter Halliday decided to stay behind. The operational manager of Whiteswan Lake Lodge said there's little information available to those from the community about what is happening and what is being done to get the wildfires under control.
As of midnight on Wednesday, there were 19 active wildfires burning in Saskatchewan, nine of which are not contained.
According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, the province has made requests for crews, equipment and more aircraft. There is already a water bomber from Alaska and two from Quebec working in the province.
Opposition Leader, northern MLAs call for provincial action
On Wednesday, in response to the wildfires in his province, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew ordered a state of emergency and received assurances of emergency military aid from Ottawa.
In a release that evening, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck, Athabasca MLA Leroy Laliberte and Cumberland MLA Jordan McPhail said Moe and his government must do the same.They also called for the province to commit to daily public briefings. These, they said, are to ensure "all essential — potentially lifesaving — information reaches people impacted by this wildfire crisis in Saskatchewan's North."
CBC reached out to the province for comment, but did not yet receive a response at the time of publication.
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This article, written by Laura Sciarpelletti, was originally published for CBC News
Thumbnail image courtesy: Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency