Updated 3:15 p.m.
A Voluntary Evacuation has been issued by the Resort Village of Candle Lake due to a wildfire that is about 20 kilometres away and is threatening the community.
The following instructions were posted on the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency website at mid-afternoon on Wednesday.
Instructions
- If you can self-evacuate and find your own accommodations, please use Highways 265 and 120 and contact the Village Office to register your evacuation.
- If you are self-evacuating, please take your pets with you.
- If you require transportation, assistance, or help with pets, contact the Village Office for support.
- Listen for updates on the evacuation.
Updated 2:10 p.m.
According to the Resort Village of Candle Lake most recent Facebook post the Government of Saskatchewan has approved the construction of a firebreak/buffer from Minowukaw along Highway 120 towards the Highway 265 junction and work will begin immediately.
They are also asking for everyone to consider voluntary evacuation at this time especially seniors, families with children and people who are medically vulnerable. They say the goal is to reduce the number of people who will need to leave on short notice if a mandatory evacuation is needed.
The
Resort Village is working to finalize its plan for evacuation if the SPSA advises that a Mandatory Evacuation Order is necessary. Resort Village officials also urge against going to the lake to stay or vacation but if you need to inspect your property or remove belongings you may still do so but you should then leave immediately.
Meanw
hile, a pre-evacuation is being issued by the RM of Paddockwood due to a wildfire that is threatening the community. The Shoe Fire is currently uncontained and is susceptible to wind conditions. Individuals in the Aspen Ridge and Cranberry Creek Subdivisions, Torch Light RV Park and surrounding properties are under a pre-evacuation order.
As of 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday there are 17 wildfires burning in the province and 9 are not contained. There have been 206 wildfires to date this year as compared to 165 last year. The Shoe fire remains the largest at more than 545-thousand acres in size.
In the Situational Incident Update the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says dozer guards are being put in place north of Candle Lake and East Trout Lake has received substantial loss in the area. Little Bear Lake has not been impacted yet, but SPSA says the fire is close at approximately one kilometre from the west shore of the lake and plans are to protect Moose Lodge at Little Bear Lake.
As well Smeaton, Choiceland, and Love will experience lots of smoke with the south – southwest winds.
Brabent Lake is one of the communities which has been evacuated because of the Jaysmith fire northeast of Missinipe and the latest update indicates there is potential impact to the community as well as Highway 102 North.
The fire west of La Ronge has crossed Highway 165. It is more than 128-thousand acres in size. The Wolf fire west of Denare Beach has forced the evacuation of the McIlveena Mine Site and is now considered a threat to the mine site.
The Club fire north of Creighton which jumped the Saskatchewan-Manitoba boundary and now poses a significant threat to nearby Flin Flon, Manitoba has closed Highway 106 from Junction 135 to Creighton and the SPSA says the priority will be protecting the City of Flin Flon, Manitoba and Town of Creighton. Tentative plans for aerial ignition are ongoing.
The Pelican fire near Pelican Narrows forced evacuations of Pelican Narrows and Hall Lake and now firefighting is concentrated on protecting the substation/ power station north of Pelican Narrows.
The wildfire burning west of Christopher Lake has not led to evacuations as yet but there is a potential to impact surrounding communities and campgrounds
Canoe Lake First Nation self-evacuated as they were faced with the possibility their access road was going to be cut off by the nearby Canoe fire. That fire is now classified as contained.
