Heavy smoke, growing forest fire forces more people to leave Stanley Mission

Twenty-five more people were forced to leave Stanley Mission Saturday as a massive forest fire grows closer to the northern Saskatchewan community.

Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson told CTV the fire has nearly doubled in size since over 200 people were forced to leave just days ago.

Flames cover over 16,000 hectares, she said, and even though there is no immediate threat to the community, smoke in the air is becoming thicker.

Saturday’s 25 evacuees joined 70 others already in Saskatoon. Over 300 people have left the First Nation so far.

A health clinic has been set up in Stanley Mission for those residents still in the community, which has a total population of 1,700 people.

Stanley Mission is about 60 kilometres northeast of La Ronge.

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  Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson told CTV even though there is no immediate threat to the Stanley Mission community, smoke in the air is becoming thicker. (photo supplied by Tammy Cook-Searson)

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  Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson told CTV even though there is no immediate threat to the Stanley Mission community, smoke in the air is becoming thicker. (photo supplied by Tammy Cook-Searson)