A wildfire reached the northern Saskatchewan village of Beauval on Thursday night(July 10), moments after the last bus carrying evacuees left the community, according to local officials.
The fire burned into the edge of the village, located about 340 kilometers north of Saskatoon. Firefighters managed to contain the blaze, preventing any homes from being lost, though a seasonal canteen building at the local recreation grounds was destroyed.
“We couldn’t have timed it any better,” said Mayor Rick Laliberte. “That flame moved in as our last bus, and the last few evacuees left the community.”
Laliberte praised the response but said more resources are urgently needed. “Type 3 workers, that’s what we're short of. We need more training and more equipment. If this is going to be the normal, we have to have local initial response teams.”
Beauval and the nearby La Plonge reserve issued mandatory evacuation orders on July 3, following earlier voluntary evacuations. Approximately 800 people were relocated, with many being taken to hotels in Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and other cities.
Steve Roberts, vice-president of operations for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), said the fire reached “right adjacent” to Beauval and that embers caused spot fires within the village, all of which were extinguished.
Crews from communities like Warman were brought in to support local and provincial firefighting efforts.
Former Deputy Mayor Wendy Eldridge, now serving as a liaison at the Saskatoon Travelodge, where many evacuees are staying, said the evacuation was stressful. “There was lots of anxiety amongst us all,” she said. “A lot of people left pets behind. My daughter had to literally drive through flames.”
Meanwhile, another wildfire is threatening the community of Jans Bay, about 30 kilometers west of Beauval. A mandatory evacuation order was issued there on Friday morning.
Mayor Laliberte said the immediate danger in Beauval has passed, but the need for better local preparation remains. “We have to prepare our communities,” he said. “Looking forward, this is becoming our new reality.”
The fire burned into the edge of the village, located about 340 kilometers north of Saskatoon. Firefighters managed to contain the blaze, preventing any homes from being lost, though a seasonal canteen building at the local recreation grounds was destroyed.
“We couldn’t have timed it any better,” said Mayor Rick Laliberte. “That flame moved in as our last bus, and the last few evacuees left the community.”
Laliberte praised the response but said more resources are urgently needed. “Type 3 workers, that’s what we're short of. We need more training and more equipment. If this is going to be the normal, we have to have local initial response teams.”
Beauval and the nearby La Plonge reserve issued mandatory evacuation orders on July 3, following earlier voluntary evacuations. Approximately 800 people were relocated, with many being taken to hotels in Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and other cities.
Steve Roberts, vice-president of operations for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), said the fire reached “right adjacent” to Beauval and that embers caused spot fires within the village, all of which were extinguished.
Crews from communities like Warman were brought in to support local and provincial firefighting efforts.
Former Deputy Mayor Wendy Eldridge, now serving as a liaison at the Saskatoon Travelodge, where many evacuees are staying, said the evacuation was stressful. “There was lots of anxiety amongst us all,” she said. “A lot of people left pets behind. My daughter had to literally drive through flames.”
Meanwhile, another wildfire is threatening the community of Jans Bay, about 30 kilometers west of Beauval. A mandatory evacuation order was issued there on Friday morning.
Mayor Laliberte said the immediate danger in Beauval has passed, but the need for better local preparation remains. “We have to prepare our communities,” he said. “Looking forward, this is becoming our new reality.”
