'I'm just happy to have a house': Evacuees start returning to La Ronge
Small businesses calling for support amid wildfire woes
Wildfire evacuees began returning to La Ronge, Air Ronge and several surrounding communities in northern Saskatchewan on Thursday.
The local evacuation order was officially lifted at 8 a.m. CST.
Speaking in La Ronge on Thursday, Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said community members will need to prepare themselves for the damage they'll likely see.
"It's devastating and it's gonna be hard on our community members as they come home," she said. "But we'll be here with them, and we'll help rebuild, and we'll be here to support them anyway we can.
"It's going to take time to heal."
Melanie Dziki, who returned to her home on Thursday, said she was glad to be back.
"I'm just happy to have a house," she said. "I'm proud and happy to see my community members and my neighbours who stayed behind, fought really hard, and we have a home to come back to."
30 fires intentionally set: SPSA
On Thursday afternoon, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) reported 23 active wildfires in the province. Of those, only three were categorized as contained.
In total, there have been 258 wildfires this year in Saskatchewan, far above the historical average of 147 fires typically seen by this time in June. Of this year's fires, 44 were caused by lightning, with the remaining caused by recreational fires that got out of control, industrial activity and arson.
The SPSA believes that approximately 30 fires were intentionally set.
Maurice Ratt, who works with First Nations Emergency Management out of Prince Albert and is a former fire chief in Sucker River, said the SPSA's limited approach to firefighting caused unnecessary damage in Sucker River.
He said he traveled with a team of firefighters to Sucker River when the wildfires initially broke out, but was stopped at a roadblock for several hours.
"I feel very devastated," he said on Thursday. "I'm still quite emotional, because knowing that we would've been able to save these houses if we were allowed at the roadblock, but we weren't. In 2015 you were able to come through the road blocks no problem to protect the community."
Hospital to reopen
In addition to businesses, the Saskatchewan Health Authority announced on Thursday that it had reopened the La Ronge Health Centre emergency department, with acute and long-term care to follow.
Starting Friday, the health centre will be able to accommodate inpatient services. Other services like ambulances, home care and detox will have some availability over the weekend.
The SHA said it will focus on restoring acute and long-term care starting June 16, along with mental health supports. Patients with acute care needs will be prioritized in the rollout, followed by residents in long-term care.
Businesses struggling
Matthew Maurer says local businesses are running low emotionally and financially, with no support from the provincial government.
"Our grocery stores that have no food, need to restock. We have business owners who stuck around to provide those essential services, and they're burnt out, they're exhausted," Matthew Maurer, president of the La Ronge & District Chamber of Commerce and owner of Nikik Digital Solutions, said at an NDP news conference in Saskatoon on Wednesday.
Maurer joined the Saskatchewan Opposition's call to Premier Scott Moe for immediate support for wildfire-impacted small businesses.
He said many of the businesses run on tourism and are facing cancelled bookings and lost summer income.
The plea came just days after the provincial ombudsman criticized the government's response to wildfire evacuations.
Evacuation orders are still in place for some northern communities and many businesses have now been closed for more than two weeks, including restaurants, lodges, hotels, fishing lodges, salons and outfitters, most of which rely on the summer months and tourism to stay afloat.
"It is peak tourism season, and the tourism economy is a huge part of our economy in Northern Saskatchewan. The Outfitters, their customers can't come to them. If the roads are closed, they can't get up there, and they're taking a huge hit," Maurer said.
The province did announce some support for evacuees on Wednesday.
Premier Scott Moe said at a news conference that anyone older than 18 who lives in a community that was evacuated will get $500.
The payment is intended to help evacuees cover immediate costs during their time away from home and expenses tied to returning once it's safe to do so.
The emergency funds will be distributed through local leadership — including municipalities and First Nations — in a move Moe described as a "partnership with our community leadership."
NDP calls for immediate relief
The NDP called for several immediate measures specifically focused on businesses:
- A grant program to help businesses stay afloat during the wildfire crisis, especially for seasonal businesses like tourism and outfitting.
- Deferrals on provincial taxes and fees.
- Expedited SGI claims.
- Zero interest on tax arrears.
"Supports are being provided to small businesses in neighbouring Alberta, which has also seen thousands evacuated due to wildfires. We need the same here," NDP jobs and economy critic Aleana Young said.
She said that some business owners have had to draw from personal savings to survive, and others are running on no income at all but still working to support firefighters and evacuees.
Among the businesses impacted is Robertson Trading, a La Ronge landmark that burned down during the wildfires, taking with it history and culture that Maurer describes as priceless. Even though Robertson Trading officially closed Dec. 31, 2023, it had been opening periodically since then.
"You can't put a price on that," he said. "It's felt everywhere, not only in the community, but I know everywhere else. Anybody who has visited La Ronge has felt the impact of the loss."
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