Latest news with #CandleLake
CTV News
29-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
CTV National News: Saskatchewan lifts emergency as wildfire threat eases
Watch CTV's Allison Bamford visits Candle Lake Provincial Park, where recent rains have brought relief and hope for a strong summer after wildfire disruptions.
CTV News
08-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘What if we lose everything?': Candle Lake business owners face uncertainty amid wildfire threat
Patty and Kerry Fuchs stand in front of their rental cabin, which they first took possession of in 2021. (Photo courtesy of Patty Fuchs) The resort village of Candle Lake is experiencing a summer quite unlike those in the past. As wildfires continue to burn in much of northern Saskatchewan, those with businesses in the community are anxiously awaiting updates. 'We've seen the planes come in and dip in the water, and we've seen it get dumped on the flames, and it's just the sounds of the helicopters around the area; the airstrip isn't far behind us,' Candle Lake business owner Patty Fuchs said. 'So, you hear it a lot. And it does feel a little bit like a war zone.' Patty and her husband, Kerry, own a rental cabin that hosts many tourists throughout the summer months. The couple says their rental cabin typically sees the most business between the May long weekend and the September long weekend. 'It's very critical that we take advantage of as many days as possible to rent our property. And if something unforeseen like this happens, now we're in a position where it means a lot of lost income,' Kerry Fuchs said. SHOE FIRE A Nova Scotian firefighter heads toward the Shoe Fire, Saskatchewan's largest uncontained wildfire, which has burned approximately 500,000 hectares since igniting on May 7. The fire is now 11 km away and is expected to reach the community within the next three to 10 days. (Photo: Nova Scotia Government/Facebook) The Fuchs are not alone in this matter, according to Brent Lutz, the chief administrative officer for the resort village of Candle Lake. 'We go from 1,000 people to about 10,000 [in the summer], and so that's where the opportunity is for these businesses to serve all these people, and obviously, at a moment like this, the cash registers are not really running,' Lutz said. Candle Lake is currently under a voluntary evacuation order, which means that anyone who does not reside in the village permanently has been asked to leave for the time being. 'A lot of people in the resort village of Candle Lake are scrambling and dealing with a situation that they haven't had to deal with before,' Kerry Fuchs said. Kerry and Patty Fuchs Kerry and Patty Fuchs on their wedding day in Candle Lake. (Photo courtesy of Patty Fuchs) The Fuchs have already gone to their cabin and taken home sentimental belongings, which Patty described as an emotional experience. 'You kind of look around, and you do break a little bit and go home, like, what happens? What if we lose everything? And so it's been a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster,' Patty Fuchs said. While the economic impact is a concern for many, according to the Fuchs, the more pressing issue of the fires has brought the community together. 'Everybody's kind of pitching in, and it just shows what Saskatchewan people are like. They just pitch in and they help out,' Patty Fuchs said. 'Some of the businesses that are still operating are there to support the emergency services. Some of them are making meals for the firefighters that are out in the field and packing lunches,' Lutz said. The Fuchs say that while the future of their business is uncertain, their community is instilling confidence in many. 'The one thing that I find is that they're not frantic. They're just pulling together and working as a community to get everything back in order, which is really, really awesome,' Patty Fuchs said. 'I think that everything's going to be okay. The stronger that we come together, and the more that we believe that we're going to be able to get through this, the better it will be,' Kerry Fuchs said.
CBC
07-06-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Candle Lake prepares for imminent fire threat; restaurant closes to serve firefighters only
The massive Shoe fire could reach the Resort Village of Candle Lake within the next three to 10 days, depending on the weather, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says. The fire is less than 12 kilometres from the village, Mayor Colleen Lavoie said in an interview Friday. Emergency services workers have been going door to door, removing flammable materials such as propane tanks and gas cans. A mandatory evacuation order has not been issued yet. However, there is a state of emergency and a voluntary evacuation request, with the village encouraging anyone who is not an essential worker to leave. The Shoe fire, first reported a month ago on May 7, has burned almost 500,000 hectares of land. "It's advancing slowly, so I'm hoping we have up to three to five days, maybe a little longer depending on if we have favourable winds," Lavoie said. "Everybody, please, fire smart your homes. So make sure there's nothing combustible around your home, even if you have to move it out by the road, by the driveway, where it's away from your house. That would be helpful," she said. Firebreaks have been completed in several areas surrounding the community, with more nearing completion. Additional firebreaks and backburns are also being worked on. Rain on the way, but winds add uncertainty Weather may offer a reprieve as rain is in the forecast starting Saturday in areas of northern Saskatchewan, bringing 10 to 20 millimetres of precipitation, but there is also a chance of thunderstorms, said Christy Climenhaga, a scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada. She said winds will be strong, gusting up to 50 to 60 kilometres per hour in the south on Saturday and then coming from the northwest. "Rain is beneficial when you are dealing with such dry conditions and active fire activity, so that will reduce the risk with cooler temperatures and a rainy day. But on the other hand, wind is something that we look at with wildfires because it can cause those fires to spread very quickly," Climenhaga said. She said much of Saskatchewan has had the driest spring on record this year, including in La Ronge, Prince Albert and North Battleford. "June forecast has a drier note at least for parts of west-central and southwestern Saskatchewan and a slightly wetter note for northeastern Saskatchewan," she said. Climenhaga said that climate change increases the intensity and risk of wildfires. "What we know about climate change and our fire behaviour is that as the climate changes, we're expecting longer fire seasons and an increased frequency of intense seasons," she said. WATCH | 'Memories just burned up': Wildfires in the Prairies: 'Memories just burned up': Wildfires in the Prairies 15 hours ago Duration 1:32 Saskatchewan and Manitoba have been grappling with raging wildfires, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. CBC News spoke to Canadians from some of the hardest-hit communities in the Prairies. Restaurant closes doors to serve firefighters Wayne and Jennifer Tucker, owners of Emma's Kitchen in Candle Lake, have temporarily closed their restaurant to the public to serve meals to wildfire crews. They're serving breakfast, packed lunches and evening meals to support those working long hours on the front lines. From bacon and eggs to meatballs and stew, they're cooking it up to serve the fire crews. "We really wanted to support the firefighters. We know that they're they're out there, they're working hard, long days, and they need a really good meal," Jennifer said in an interview Friday on CBC Radio's The 306. With donations pouring in from local residents and even high schools in Saskatoon, Emma's Kitchen is making a difference during these tough times. They're feeding about 55 people in a day and packing up around 80 lunch bags to go out.
CTV News
06-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Residents of Candle Lake prepare for evacuation
WATCH: Residents in La Ronge and first responders are facing new challenges in the midst of the ongoing wildfires. Residents of Candle Lake are being asked to pack their bags as the Shoe fire, Saskatchewan's largest, is within days of reaching the community. In a news release Friday, a village spokesperson said the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has advised residents the Shoe fire is now 11 km away and is expected to reach the community within the next three to 10 days, depending on weather conditions. 'The SPSA has not issued a mandatory evacuation, however residents should be prepared as it appears imminent this will occur,' the Resort Village of Candle Lake said in an update sent shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Friday. The Shoe fire is the biggest of six uncontained wildfires burning in northern Saskatchewan. It's burned 471,418 hectares so far since it first ignited on May 7 — an area over 20 times the size of Saskatoon. It has forced multiple communities to evacuate, including Lower Fishing Lake, Piprell Lake, East Trout Lake, Little Bear Lake, and Whiteswan/Whelan Bay. Without a major rainfall soon, it looks like Candle Lake will be the next on that list. Saskatchewan fire As of 11:30 a.m. Friday, 24 active fires were burning in northern Saskatchewan, with only three considered contained. The village is one of the fastest growing resort communities in the province with a sizeable year-round population — growing nearly 40 per cent between 2016 and 2021 to 1,160 people, according to census data. Provincial firefighters have implemented various protective actions to mitigate potential damage to the community, including clearcutting fire breaks around some subdivisions, and carrying flammable items like firewood away from properties. Ground and air crews continue active suppression efforts, the village says. Residents are urged to stay informed through official channels and prepare for potential evacuation. As of 11:30 a.m. Friday, 24 active fires were burning in northern Saskatchewan, with only three considered contained. Saskatchewan fire Nova Scotia's deployed fire crew joins forces with Saskatchewan teams and firefighters from across Canada to battle the Shoe Fire. (Source: Nova Scotia Government/Facebook) Provincial crews have been struggling to contain a number of other major wildfires across north-central Saskatchewan, including the Pisew fire (141,905.0 hectares), the Wolf fire (130,822.0 hectares), the Pelican 2 fire (30,428.0 hectares), the Club fire (22,000.0 hectares), and the Ditch fire (90,000.0 hectares). Saskatchewan's sole Liberal MP, Buckley Belanger, is set to join officials from Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in the community of Denare Beach on Friday to assess damage from the Wolf fire, MBC Radio reports. Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation says it's to help leaders better understand the situation on the ground and identify supports needed in the coming weeks.
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Candle Lake in jeopardy as Sask. fires rage
WATCH: Sask. saw scores of communities ordered out on Monday as wildfires raged on. In the resort of Candle Lake, residents prepare to leave as the province's largest wildfire approaches their doors.
