16.65°C Vancouver

Jun 3, 2025 12:35 PM - The Canadian Press

Saskatchewan fire evacuations grow after blaze breaches airport

Share On

The latest wildfire evacuees in Saskatchewan are being told to head south to Prince Albert after being ordered to leave the northern town of La Ronge.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency issued an evacuation order Monday afternoon for the 2,500 residents of La Ronge, as well as those in nearby Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band after a wildfire breached the town's airport.

Among the affected by the order are more than 45 acute-care patients and long-term care residents from the La Ronge Health Centre and care homes, who the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Canadian Red Cross are working to move.

The out-of-control fire is fast moving and was listed at more than 836 square kilometres in size as of Monday evening.

The La Ronge evacuation adds to the 8,000 residents already displaced by 18 fires burning in Saskatchewan, while dozens of fires in neighbouring Manitoba have sent more than 17,000 people from their homes, including 5,000 residents of Flin Flon.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has said some 1,000 hotel rooms were being made available for evacuees in Winnipeg.

Latest news

trump-arrives-in-alaska-talks-with-putin-on-ukraine-war
WorldAug 15, 2025

Trump arrives in Alaska, talks with Putin on Ukraine war

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are holding talks on the Ukraine war in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. The meeting is taking place behind closed doors. Trump waited on the plane for about half an hour for Putin to arrive in Alaska. Putin is in the US after 10 years. He was welcomed by a red carpet at the airport. The two leaders were initially expected to meet privately, but now senior American and Russian officials have also joined them. Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not invited to the meeting, says Ukraine trusts the US but there is no indication that Russia
be-safe-around-tracks-and-trains
BCAug 15, 2025

White Rock RCMP appeals to be safe around tracks and trains

White Rock RCMP is reminding the public that trains can move without warning, stay off the tracks, follow signals and use designated crossings. On the evening of August 13, around 7:15 p.m., White Rock RCMP responded to a train stopped blocking the crossing near the pier head. While the train was stationary, some pedestrians, including parents with children crawled under it or walked along the tracks instead of using the Balsam Street crossing. This is extremely dangerous. A stopped train can move without warning, and anyone underneath or on the tracks is at serious risk of injury or death. Po
officials-hope-rain-clear-heavy-smoke-from-wildfire-near-port-alberni-b-c
BCAug 15, 2025

Officials hope rain clear heavy smoke from wildfire near Port Alberni, B.C.

Officials on Vancouver Island are hoping rain in the forecast can help clear up the air quality muddied by an out-of-control wildfire. The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District says wildland firefighters have said the rain may improve air quality locally, but that it's hard to be certain. The west central region is under an air quality statement, along with parts of Vancouver Island's east coast and the Sunshine coast region on the B.C. mainland. The intense Mount Underwood wildfire has grown to more than 34 square kilometres, with fire behaviour that the BC Wildfire Service says is "unusual" fo
first-nation-in-b-c-says-41-more-graves-found-by-penetrating-radar-at-school-site
BCAug 15, 2025

First Nation in B.C. says 41 more graves found by penetrating radar at school site

The shishalh First Nation says 41 ``additional unmarked graves'' have been found as a result of a search with ground-penetrating radar on the site of a former residential school. The nation on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast says a team has been scanning the area around the St. Augustine's Residential School site for the last 18 months, at locations identified through interviews with survivors. It says the discovery brings the number of suspected graves at the site to 81, after initial findings that were announced in 2023. First Nations communities have tended to use careful language when an
air-canada-flight-attendants-in-final-day-before-strike-deadline
CanadaAug 15, 2025

Air Canada, flight attendants in final day before strike deadline

The union representing Air Canada's flight attendants has formally rejected the airline's request to enter binding arbitration. Air Canada had requested federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu step in and direct the parties to enter binding arbitration.   Now the Air Canada component of CUPE says Hajdu should also deny Air Canada's request for intervention saying --quote-- "Air Canada appears to have anticipated government intervention and has opted to suspend meaningful discussions, contrary to its legal obligation to bargain in good faith.''   Air Canada's executive vice-president has sa

Related News