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Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Village of Denare Beach, Opposition say Sask. government 'failed' northern community
Residents of the Northern Village of Denare Beach, Sask., and Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP say the provincial government failed the village as a wildfire approached nearly a month ago. Denare Beach is located close to the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border and has approximately 700 year-round residents. More than 200 homes were destroyed by the Wolf fire. People from the village say it received no help from the Sask. Party government, despite high winds, dry weather and how fast the Wolf fire was moving. They also say the province has not been helpful during evacuation proceedings or as residents returned to find their community devastated by the fire. "I stand here without a home, and I don't want anyone else to experience the pain and loss that my family and I have endured," Denare Beach resident Jennifer Hysert said at an NDP news conference in the village on Thursday. "The Wolf fire took nearly everything my family has built over the past 25 years. What makes this loss even more painful is learning that it could have been avoided," resident Jennifer Hysert said. WATCH | Denare Beach resident says the Sask. Party government failed her community: Residents and their MLA are calling for accountability from the government for "failing" their community and for immediate action to rebuild it for the future. Both Manitoba and Saskatchewan declared provincial states of emergencies. But Jordan McPhail, NDP MLA for Cumberland, said the Village of Denare Beach wants to know why Premier Scott Moe didn't call in federal help for their community, unlike the Manitoba government, which called for military help immediately. That military help was used just 22 kilometres northeast of Denare Beach to Flin Flon, Man. "I think Scott Moe and Tim McLeod [minister of corrections, policing and public safety] need to answer to the people as to how does this happen in Canada when you didn't even involve the Canadian government, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Operation LENTUS, and the many things that the military could have brought to the front lines of these fires." Operation LENTUS is the CAF response for natural disasters in Canada. Its primary objective is to help provincial and local authorities ensure the safety of residents. McPhail said the Denare Beach had no help when residents were displaced, and has no help now that they've returned home to rubble. "No clear direction from the provincial government on how to get assistance. No plan in place to get resources here so this community can begin to rebuild," he said. WATCH | 'I just broke': Denare Beach, Sask., resident shows what's left of her home after wildfire: Paul Rossington, operations manager with Big Ice Services, a local construction company that provided equipment and manpower to local firefighters, said it did so because the province did not address calls for help. He said things may have been different if the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) made different choices. "There was no extra sprinkler gear for Denare Beach, or fire retardant drops or ground crews spraying fire retardant. None of that. Minimal extra fire trucks were deployed. So Denare Beach was left to burn," Rossington said. The SPSA has not provided a public update on the fires since earlier this week, and the provincial government did not respond to CBC's questions on Thursday. Denare Beach Mayor Carl Lentowicz said cleaning up remains a priority, but will be a challenge. "A lot of stuff, nobody's ever handled before in that capacity. So there's gonna be a learning curve," Lentowicz said. Rebuilding will come after the cleanup, but residents said they're stuck waiting on guidance from the provincial government. "We cannot allow this to happen again," Hysert said. WATCH | Her Denare Beach home was destroyed by fire, but her lake resort was somehow spared: Speakers at the news conference thanked the local firefighters, volunteers and ground crew who worked their hardest to protect the community, but said seeing the village reduced to rubble has been devastating. "I had some say that their husband was brought to their knees. Men who are, you know, the strongest of the strong … brought to their knees in tears," Hysert said. Hysert said she is happy to be home, despite the lack of communication from the province, and wants the pride of her community to be restored and recognized by the rest of Saskatchewan.
CBC
27-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Village of Denare Beach, Opposition say Sask. government 'failed' northern community
Social Sharing Residents of the Northern Village of Denare Beach, Sask., and Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP say the provincial government failed the village as a wildfire approached nearly a month ago. Denare Beach is located close to the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border and has approximately 700 year-round residents. More than 200 homes were destroyed by the Wolf fire. People from the village say it received no help from the Sask. Party government, despite high winds, dry weather and how fast the Wolf fire was moving. They also say the province has not been helpful during evacuation proceedings or as residents returned to find their community devastated by the fire. "I stand here without a home, and I don't want anyone else to experience the pain and loss that my family and I have endured," Denare Beach resident Jennifer Hysert said at an NDP news conference in the village on Thursday. "The Wolf fire took nearly everything my family has built over the past 25 years. What makes this loss even more painful is learning that it could have been avoided," resident Jennifer Hysert said. Residents and their MLA are calling for accountability from the government for "failing" their community and for immediate action to rebuild it for the future. Both Manitoba and Saskatchewan declared provincial states of emergencies. But Jordan McPhail, NDP MLA for Cumberland, said the Village of Denare Beach wants to know why Premier Scott Moe didn't call in federal help for their community, unlike the Manitoba government, which called for military help immediately. That military help was used just 22 kilometres northeast of Denare Beach to Flin Flon, Man. "I think Scott Moe and Tim McLeod [minister of corrections, policing and public safety] need to answer to the people as to how does this happen in Canada when you didn't even involve the Canadian government, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Operation LENTUS, and the many things that the military could have brought to the front lines of these fires." Operation LENTUS is the CAF response for natural disasters in Canada. Its primary objective is to help provincial and local authorities ensure the safety of residents. WATCH | Denare Beach resident says the Sask. Party government failed her community: 'No reason' Denare Beach destroyed, says resident in emotional critique of government response 3 hours ago Duration 2:53 Denare Beach, Sask., was one of the communities worst-hit by Saskatchewan's wildfires. As residents and community leaders now look to rebuild, some are critiquing the provincial government for pain they say was avoidable. McPhail said the Denare Beach had no help when residents were displaced, and has no help now that they've returned home to rubble. "No clear direction from the provincial government on how to get assistance. No plan in place to get resources here so this community can begin to rebuild," he said. Paul Rossington, operations manager with Big Ice Services, a local construction company that provided equipment and manpower to local firefighters, said it did so because the province did not address calls for help. He said things may have been different if the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) made different choices. "There was no extra sprinkler gear for Denare Beach, or fire retardant drops or ground crews spraying fire retardant. None of that. Minimal extra fire trucks were deployed. So Denare Beach was left to burn," Rossington said. The SPSA has not provided a public update on the fires since earlier this week, and the provincial government did not respond to CBC's questions on Thursday. Denare Beach Mayor Carl Lentowicz said cleaning up remains a priority, but will be a challenge. "A lot of stuff, nobody's ever handled before in that capacity. So there's gonna be a learning curve," Lentowicz said. Rebuilding will come after the cleanup, but residents said they're stuck waiting on guidance from the provincial government. "We cannot allow this to happen again," Hysert said. Speakers at the news conference thanked the local firefighters, volunteers and ground crew who worked their hardest to protect the community, but said seeing the village reduced to rubble has been devastating. "I had some say that their husband was brought to their knees. Men who are, you know, the strongest of the strong … brought to their knees in tears," Hysert said. Hysert said she is happy to be home, despite the lack of communication from the province, and wants the pride of her community to be restored and recognized by the rest of Saskatchewan.
CTV News
26-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Residents of Denare Beach, Sask., returning home to find much of community destroyed
WATCH: Wildfire evacuation orders have been lifted for residents of Creighton and Denare Beach. What can those returning home expect to see? After a month-long evacuation due to a wildfire, residents of Denare Beach in Saskatchewan began returning home on Wednesday. The community of about 700 residents northeast of Prince Albert was forced to flee their homes on May 8, just two days after the Wolf Fire ignited and ripped through the area. As residents trickled back into town, they were met with a scene of devastation. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed with estimates suggesting that up to 400 buildings in the community may be gone. 'Having a plan, having information, having support systems, being told that everything is being done to help you, would have gone a long way,' said Jennifer Hysert, who lost her home in the fire. The destruction is a harsh reality for residents who are still reeling from the disaster. Jennifer Hysert Denare Beach resident Jennifer Hysert speaks to reporters about losing her home in the wildfires, June 25 (John Flatters/CTV News) Despite the trauma, the community is relieved that no one was hurt or killed in the fire. However, many are frustrated that the community couldn't be saved, despite warnings about the gravity of the fire. 'We were given nothing in terms of funds, support – you name it. There was nothing. And it's really bothersome to me that that's possible with the resources we have. We're not living in 1910,' Hysert added. The Wolf Fire is the province's third-largest active wildfire, burning nearly 162,000 hectares of land. The smoke was still visible in the distance on Wednesday as residents were grappling with the aftermath of the disaster. Repatriation efforts were slow, with some evacuees coming from Manitoba having to wait until Wednesday to drive back. Denare Beach (John Flatters/CTV News) The province is still dealing with multiple wildfires, with 19 active fires burning in northern Saskatchewan as of Thursday. Only two are considered contained while five are out of control, including the Shoe Fire, which burned over 554,000 hectares, and the Pisew Fire, which has burned over 184,000 hectares. Saskatchewan has seen 267 wildfires this year exceeding the five-year average of 169. Over 30 communities were evacuated and according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), as of Thursday, only two communities - Creighton and East Trout Lake- were under an active evacuation order. - With files from Hayatullah Amanat
CTV News
05-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
It's just devastating': Wildfire evacuees using security cameras to watch homes as flames tear through
Doorbell cameras are giving wildfire evacuees a front row seat to the real time destruction in their community. Danton Unger reports. Doorbell and security cameras are giving wildfire evacuees a chilling front-row seat to real-time chaos being caused by wildfires. For some, the videos provide a glimmer of hope their homes are still standing, while for others it confirms their worst fears. Cyndi Pedwell said she watched her doorbell camera Monday as flames ripped through her home in Denare Beach, Sask. 'We actually watched it happen until the internet was eaten up,' she said. 'It's just devastating. It just happened so fast and I think everything was just incinerated in no time.' Jennifer Hysert dealt with a similar situation. Her neighbour in Denare Beach sent her a video of her home reduced to ash. 'I've been calling this fire the demon. And when this demon came through, it had so much power, it was unstoppable,' said Hysert. 'I think the most sickening feeling is not knowing. So whenever I had a lot of friends on the ground, and whenever I got any information, I was trying to share it.' She isn't alone. For the hundreds of residents evacuated from the Flin Flon area, these cameras are providing them some of the most up-to-date information. 'Peace of mind is probably the thing we seek most and the thing we have least and we have no way of determining whether our property is there or not there,' said Valerie Gundersen. She has been using social media to share footage from the cameras at her home in Creighton, Sask., letting her neighbours know that for now, their block still stands. 'It's one thing that I know I could trust,' she said. 'On my little piece of earth so far, we're still there.' For Pedwell, this isn't closure, but she said these videos at least mean she doesn't have to wonder. 'It's hard to see, but I think it's just, I don't know, it's part of the process. Maybe it will help when we finally get to go back,' said Pedwell.
