Three homes destroyed in weekend wildfire on James Smith Cree Nation

Photo: Muskoday Volunteer Fire Department Facebook Page

Three homes were lost in a wildfire on the James Smith Cree Nation over the weekend.

According to the Muskoday Volunteer Fire Department Facebook page, they, alongside five other fire departments, were called to the scene on Saturday around 3:20 p.m.

Kinistino Fire Department, Garden River Fire Department, Melfort Fire Department, Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, and firefighters from Sask First Nation Emergency Management were also in attendance, and they were able to return to their respective halls at around midnight.

The fire is now under control, but at its peak, the blaze was about 250 acres in size, according to SPSA, which also states that the fire was caused by human activity. Kinistino Fire Department wrote on Facebook that “High winds and hot temperatures made it very difficult to get under control.”

Evacuees were directed to the local Bernard Constant Community School gym where they were able to access food, water and further support.

A fourth home on the Cree Nation was also destroyed in an unrelated housefire earlier that same day. No one was injured, but JSCN is calling for donations of new clothes, shoes, and essentials to help the family get through this difficult time.

The SPSA reports that there are currently 14 wildfires in the province, 11 of them contained and three of them under ongoing assessment.