|
|
|
Some Sask. forest fire evacuees go home, but more evacuations possible |
|
|
|
Written by Jennifer Graham, THE CANADIAN PRESS
|
|
Saturday, 05 July 2008 |
The Mirond fire in the Pelican Narrows area of northern Saskatchewan, is shown in this undated handout photo. The fire is listed as not yet secure. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ HO - Ministry of Environment- Gov. of Saskatchewan
REGINA - Hundreds of people who fled forest fires in northern Saskatchewan are being allowed to return home, but there are warnings that more evacuations may be needed.
Authorities said Saturday that more than 800 evacuees from Deschambault Lake will go home over the next few days.
"We have received word from elected officials ... that they have decided to return individuals back to Deschambault. So we will be commencing to develop orderly plans for the safe return," said Cathy Bulych with Social Services.
"We may be able to return some (Saturday), but that may not be all individuals," she said.
However, Bulych cautioned that thick smoke may still force evacuations in other communities.
"We're sort of at the point where some communities will begin to be ready to return home and others may actually still have to be required to bring additional individuals out," said Bulych. "At this time it's all primarily smoke-related concerns."
It was the smoke that forced the Deschambault Lake residents from their homes on July 1.
Many spent nearly eight hours on buses to reach shelter in student residences at the University of Regina. They're among some 2,500 people from northern communities seeking refuge in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina.
Richard Kent, with the Prince Albert Grand Council, said officials want to ensure the proper people are brought home first.
"We have priority people that were taken out of the community first," Kent said in a conference call Saturday.
"These are the people with respiratory problems and other health ailments, elders. Those are the people that will more than likely be going back last."
As of Saturday, there were 88 forest fires burning across Saskatchewan, including 36 new fires started by lightning strikes Friday. That brings the total number of fires so far this year in the province to 500 - more than double the number of fires compared to last year.
There did appear to be some help on the horizon.
Some of the biggest fires were receiving rain Saturday, including the blaze near Deschambault Lake, said Saskatchewan Environment spokeswoman Rhonda Michaels. Fire protection lines are also in place.
"The closest that that fire is to that town is one kilometre, but as I said that's the area where values protection unit, sprinkler systems, and the lines have been put in - and those lines are holding," said Michaels.
"If there's a lot of rain on these fires it will definitely help the smoke conditions, but we'll have to see what happens after that," she added.
 |
|
Last Updated ( Saturday, 05 July 2008 )
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed