People who fled Sandy Bay and Southend due to forest fires last month finally received good news this week. The evacuation orders have been lifted and people are now able to head home.
The news for Sandy Bay came out Monday night, in the form of a statement issued by Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) leadership around 9 p.m. local time. The evacuation order for the community was officially lifted at 8 a.m. Tuesday - almost a full month since the order was first put in place.
“We are pleased to announce that the repatriation process for Sandy Bay is officially underway,” reads the statement.
“After a careful assessment of fire risks and infrastructure stability, the evacuation order will be lifted tomorrow morning and preparations are being put in place to bring our members safely back home.”
An evacuation order was issued for the community August 13 by band leadership due to a fire which had grown close to the area. That fire, officially named the Flanagan fire by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), has burned about 45,000 hectares of forest and is still considered to be “not contained” by the SPSA. The fire has burned since July 9, when it was triggered by a lightning strike during a passing storm.
Since the order was put into effect, about 1,800 Sandy Bay residents have had to stay with family and friends or at hotels, waiting to hear about their hometown’s fate. More than 1,300 people registered as evacuees from the community were staying in hotels in Prince Albert and Saskatoon - both PBCN and the Canadian Red Cross organized the evacuation.
While the fire is still not considered to be contained, it hasn’t grown for over three days - according to Natural Resources Canada, recent hotspots have been reported with the fire, but little new growth has been seen in the past week. The reported hotspots have also taken place to the fire’s north flank, far away from both Sandy Bay and Saskatchewan Highway 135, the road into town.
No reports have been made of any property damage or injuries as a result of the fire.
When locals come back to town, Sandy Bay’s infrastructure is expected to work - hydro lines, water and sewer are still functioning in the town and vital services like the local health centre, RCMP, stores and fuel stations will be able to operate as soon as people come home. On arrival, PBCN representatives said the band will distribute supplies like food and water to people coming home.
“Care packages and essential supplies will be distributed upon return. Our leadership team is fully prepared to ensure your homecoming is smooth and safe,” reads the PBCN statement.
Buses started bringing evacuees home from Prince Albert Tuesday morning, with people who left in their own vehicles able to get fuel at the PetroCanada station on Second Avenue West in Prince Albert - a list of registered evacuees is located at the station and costs for their fuel will be covered.
PBCN leadership thanked first responders, firefighters, health personnel and volunteers for their work in making the community safe to return home to.
“This has been a challenging time for all, but your resilience and patience have been appreciated. As you make your way home today, we wish everyone safe travels,” reads a statement issued by PBCN vice-chief Justin Halcrow Tuesday morning.
“We would also like to extend a special thank you to all the volunteers, emergency response teams, health professionals and PBCN staff who worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our community members during the evacuation. Your support has been invaluable and we are truly grateful for the dedication and care you have shown. As you make your way back to Sandy Bay today, we wish everyone safe travels.”
Southend
More good news came Thursday, when the evacuation order was lifted for Southend. Southend was under the order since last month when a fire, officially called the Merkley fire, burned close to a road into town and a Saskatchewan Highways camp near the community.
"We are pleased to announce that the evacuation order for the community of Southend has officially been rescinded," reads a PBCN statement issued Thursday.
"SPSA has completed a reassessment of the Merkley fire and it no longer poses a threat to the community. Value protection resources have been demobilized and Highway 102 leading into Southend has been declared safe for travel."
Services in the community are expected to still be functioning, including water, sewer and electricity. There are no confirmed reports of property damage or injuries as a result of the Merkley fire.
The Arthur Morin Memorial Health Centre in the community will function as a return hub for evacuees coming home - anyone with possible health issues that may be exacerbated by smoke is asked to check in with health staff in case they need assistance.
No other PBCN communities, including Pelican Narrows, are considered to be under threat from fires.
The weather forecast for the area this week could help keep the hotspots at bay. While the past few days have seen higher-than-seasonal temperatures and no rain, a cold front is set to come into the area later this week. According to Environment Canada forecasts, rain and cooler temperatures for Sandy Bay, Southend and other area communities are expected to continue into next week.
