Latest news with #Patuanak
CBC
15-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Wildfires lead to evacuations in 8 northern Sask. communities
Wildfires have flared up again this month, leading to the evacuations of eight communities in northern Saskatchewan. The most recent is the northern hamlet of Patuanak, as well as around Beauval and Montreal Lake Cree Nation.
CBC
10-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Patuanak, Sask., airlifting residents out after wildfire cuts off only road
Social Sharing A hamlet in northern Saskatchewan has declared a state of emergency and is airlifting some residents out a week after wildfire blocked the only road into the community and left around 700 people stranded. Patuanak, located about 425 kilometres north of Saskatoon, is usually only accessible by road via Highway 918. "Without assurance that the road could be opened and power lines still being threatened we declared a State of Emergency in Patuanak," officials with the English River First Nation (ERFN) said in a Facebook post Wednesday. Priority 1 and 2 people — including elders, children and those with medical conditions — are being taken to safety by aircraft, said Cheyenna Hunt, ERFN director of lands and consultation, in an email to CBC on Thursday. Nineteen separate trips are planned to transport residents into Buffalo Narrows. They will then be taken to Lloydminster by bus, the email said. Those who are able-bodied and healthy will remain in the community. "The combination of fire and smoke has created this state," Hunt said, adding that winds have been "extremely volatile." 'These fires will not be getting any closer': SPSA The Muskeg fire has grown to nearly 34,000 hectares and is about 40 kilometres away from Patuanak, Saskatchewan Public Safety Association (SPSA) executive director of land operations Bryan Chartrand said. The Smith Fire is also about 29 kilometres away, Chartrand said. Southerly winds that have been pushing the fire toward Patuanak are expected to switch direction Monday, heading north, according to Chartrand. "These fires will not be getting any closer," he said. Four other communities — Beauval, La Plonge reserve, the resort subdivision of Lac La Plonge and Kinoosaomare — are under evacuation orders due to the Muskeg fire. The SPSA issued a fire ban Thursday for areas north of the provincial forest boundary, up to the Churchill River, due to "the high fire activity and extreme fire risk." As of Thursday afternoon, 56 fires remain active in Saskatchewan, with only six listed as contained. SPSA lists 12 as not contained, 21 as under ongoing assessment and 17 as "protecting values," meaning the fire is active and the focus is on protecting things like cabins and infrastructure. Saskatchewan has had 362 wildfires to date this year, well above the five-year average of 222 for this time. Up-to-date info on active fires, smoke and related topics is available at these sources:
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
LIVE @ 1:30: Officials to provide update on Sask. wildfire response
Officials from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) will provide an update regarding the province's response to the ongoing wildfire threat. The update slated for 1:30 p.m. CST will be streamed live at this top of this article. As of noon Thursday, there are 56 active wildfires in the province, according to the SPSA's website. Six are considered contained, 12 are not contained, 21 are subject to ongoing assessments while protecting values are the priority in 17 blazes. On Wednesday, the community of Patuanak, located more than 400 kilometres north of Prince Albert, declared a state of emergency after the community's sole road south was closed due to worsening fires. A fire ban is now in effect for all lands north of the provincial forest boundary – up to the Churchill River. The ban prohibits any open fires, controlled burns and fireworks within the boundaries – which includes provincial parks, provincial recreation sites and the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District. The ban does not include any ATV/UTV restrictions at this time.
CTV News
09-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Northern Sask. community of Patuanak declares state of emergency due to wildfires
People stop along a highway as a large active wildfire fills the sky with smoke in the background in the La Ronge, Sask., area in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, *MANDATORY CREDIT* Another community in northern Saskatchewan has declared a state of emergency from wildfires. On Wednesday, officials with the community of Patuanak were telling residents to evacuate. Since the highway is closed to the community, evacuees will have to be flown to Buffalo Narrows and then bused to Lloydminster. Meanwhile, the province has issued another fire ban for parts of northern Saskatchewan as the fire risk remains extreme. The ban issued by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) will be in effect as of Thursday at 8 a.m. and spans the area north of the provincial forest boundary up to the Churchill River. It prohibits any open fires, controlled burns, and fireworks. The ban does not include ATV or UTV restrictions.
CBC
04-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
700 people stranded in northern Sask. community after wildfire blocks road
Social Sharing About 700 people in a small hamlet in northern Saskatchewan are stranded Friday after a wildfire knocked out the only road into their community. Poor internet connection? CBC Lite is our low-bandwidth website. Patuanak, a hamlet about 500 kilometres north of Saskatoon and 100 kilometres north of recently evacuated Beauval, Sask., is typically only accessible by road via Highway 918. This week the highway was cut off by a wildfire, preventing people from leaving, and blocking direct access to supplies and emergency crews. "Essentially they are safe but they are cut off," said Candyce Paul, emergency management co-ordinator for the English River First Nation, which Patuanak is a part of. "They had lost power once as poles got burned, but SaskPower was quickly able to protect the road enough to restore the power." Speaking from the La Plonge Reserve just outside Beauval, Paul said there isn't any immediate danger to Patuanak from wildfires or heavy smoke. The nearest wildfire, she said, was still around 60 kilometres away. "Medical services are all up there. There's an airport up there. We have a team operating up there as well. Our emergency management team is making preparations for any scenario that comes up." Paul said essentials like pharmaceuticals have been brought in by air, while a team of nurses was able to travel to the community by boat. Many community members with complex medical needs were able to leave before the road was cut off, Paul said, many of them taking refute in Cold Lake, Alta. "The ones that needed to be evacuated, they are 90 per cent out," Paul said. On Friday morning, the English River First Nation emergency management team announced that La Plonge had been fully evacuated. Beauval closes road Meanwhile, the town of Beauval announced it had blocked the road into the community to prevent non-essential personnel from entering. Traffic will still be allowed to exit the community, which is now more than 75 per cent evacuated. The town also announced that the Travelodge in Saskatoon being used as a muster point is now full. Evacuees will be assigned to new hotels.
