A number of Saskatchewan towns located north of Prince Albert are now under watch for potential evacuation over the upcoming Victoria Day long weekend due to approaching wildfires near their areas.
The alert encompasses regions situated below Narrow Hills Provincial Park, which is presently a focal point for concerns.
On Thursday, the village of Candle Lake initiated a pre-evacuation warning, urging both locals and tourists to get ready should conditions deteriorate because of a nearby wildfire located approximately 25 kilometers to the east of the recreational area.
The Rural Municipality of Torch River has issued a comparable warning to inhabitants of adjacent areas including Choiceland, White Fox, and Smeaton.
The four communities are closely monitoring two major wildfires in or around Narrow Hills. These blazes are designated as 25LF-CAMP and 25LF-SHOE by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA).
As of Thursday’s SPSA update, both fires have been burning in the region since May 6 and stand as the biggest recorded conflagrations in the province. Together, these two wildfire events encompass a combined area of 48,000 hectares.
Related
The SHOE fire remains active within the provincial park, leading to evacuations for residents in Lower Fishing Lake, Caribou Creek, and Piprell Lake. To the south, the CAMP fire is situated east of Candle Lake, approximately 15 kilometers north of Smeaton and Choiceland.
The SPSA is striving to control each fire by employing Type 1 firefighters (the main responders) and Type 2 personnel (local community teams), as well as additional nearby firefighting units. Aircraft, including air tankers and helicopters, have likewise been dispatched for support.
SaskParks stated that the SHOE wildfire resulted in "substantial" destruction at both the Gem Lakes and Lost Echo campgrounds, leading to their closure for the remainder of the season. Additionally, Narrow Hills Provincial Park will remain closed until at least May 29.
The roads of Highway 106 north of Smeaton and Highway 120 at the 913 junction have likewise been shut down because of smokey conditions.
A “small number” of people have evacuated from the Narrow Hills area so far, said SPSA director of land operations Bryan Chartrand. Supports are being provided.
Though the wildfire situation improved slightly this week due to “favourable weather conditions” like rain and lower temperatures, Chartrand still advised residents and campers to be careful over the long weekend.
“Please do not let your fire go wild, and continue to take precautions,” he said. “This past week proved that preventative action can reduce wildfires in Saskatchewan.”
By Thursday morning, there were 10 active forest fires ongoing within the province. This year, a cumulative total of 155 wildfires have taken place, a number consistent with the previous year at the same point yet exceeding the five-year average of 96 incidents.
lkurz@postmedia.com
The Regina Leader-Post has produced an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be sent directly to your inbox every day, ensuring you stay informed about today’s crucial headlines. Click here to subscribe.
Given that certain online platforms have restricted access to the journalism you rely on, our site serves as your go-to source for current events; be sure to save us in your bookmarks. truenorthviral And subscribe to our newsletters to stay informed. Click here to subscribe.
