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VIDEOS: Emergency Social Services opening more evacuation sites

Jun 29, 2015 | 5:44 PM

Prince Albert is nearly at capacity when it comes to how many forest fire evacuees can be taken in.

Over 1,000 evacuees from northern Saskatchewan are now in the care of Emergency Social Services (ESS).

Deanna Wysoskey, coordinator for ESS with the Ministry of Social Services, said most are staying in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and North Battleford.

Residents have been evacuated from Nemeiben Lake, Sucker River, Waden Bay, English Bay, Ramsey Bay, Weyakwin, Montreal Lake, Timber Bay, Grandmother’s Bay, Stanley Mission, La Loche, Clear Water, Patuanak, and Pinehouse.

In Prince Albert 164 people are in hotels, 125 are staying at Saskatchewan Polytechnic and 40 are with friends and family. On Monday, 200 people left the community of Clear Water and were placed at Carlton Comprehensive High School where they’re being looked after by Red Cross volunteers. 

Capacity for evacuees has almost been reached in Prince Albert.

“We’re getting very close,” said Wysoskey.

“A lot more people have left home than what we’re supporting,” said Wysoskey. “Those people have gone to stay with friends and family, gone on a holiday, made their own arrangements.”

We don’t track the numbers of people who don’t need our support, we’re only tracking the number of people that we’re supporting.”

Out of those who are registered with ESS, in North Battleford 120 people are staying in hotel.

At Henk Ruys Soccer Centre in Saskatoon 516 evacuees have taken refuge. More than 147 are in hotels and 35 are staying with friends and family. Many came to Saskatoon from Montreal Lake and Timber Bay on Sunday.

“There will likely be more people coming out in the next few days because the situation isn’t resolving yet,” said Wysoskey. “We do have additional facilities that we can use to accommodate people.”

According to Wysoskey, they are planning on opening up the University of Regina and the Sasktel Sports Centre in Saskatoon to house more evacuees.

ESS has also looked into facilities in smaller cities including Lloydminister, a hall in Meadow Lake and multiple hotels in the province.

“Everybody who needs to be accommodated will have a place to go,” said Wysoskey.

To improve the situation, ESS is looking for ways to keep the evacuees in good spirits.

“For the people who are already out at the congregation facilities and hotels, recreation activities started yesterday (Sunday) and those will be increased today (Monday),” said Wyoskey. “Just to keep – particularly the kids – busy and occupied and give everybody something to do.”

Because of the hot weather, they’ve planned some outdoor activities.

“We’ve got paddling pools set up, we’ve got sprinklers for the kids, we’ve got water balloons,” she said. “We’re organizing some trips in Saskatoon, hoping to take people to the zoo, possibly to the movies.”

They’ve also been looking to book drummers for a performance at the Soccer Centre.

Montreal Lake evacuations

Over one thousand people from Montreal Lake have been fully evacuated from the community after Sunday’s close call with a fire.

According to Montreal Lake Band Councilor Roger Bird, the fire came so close that they were concerned about the homes on the reserve.

Bird and a handful of others stuck around to help keep the flames at bay.

“[We used] sprinklers for sure, and we’ve got to thank those guys with the bucket and the chopper and all that,” said Bird. “They’re the ones that basically saved the homes.”

Bird said it was intense and frightening when he watched the helicopter drop water on the fire.

After that he said the fire began to move away towards the east.

“It kind of went east of Montreal Lake,” said Bird. “I’m not sure if it slowed down, but I’m sure if the heat and the wind pick up again it’ll take off again.”

At this point, Bird said he has no plans on calling back any of the community members.

However he said he and the handful of others will stick around to continue to make sure the houses stay standing.

paNOW will have more updates on evacuations as they come in.

 

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Families boarding from Montreal Lake to evacuation base in saskatoon

Posted by Thatconradguy Eh on Sunday, June 28, 2015

With files from Chelsea Laskowski. 

asoloducha@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha