'School loss was preventable': Fire destroys school on northern Sask. First Nation
Students in Waterhen Lake First Nation remain out of class on Wednesday following a devastating fire that destroyed the community’s school.
Around 1 p.m. Tuesday, Meadow Lake Fire Department and emergency responders answered the call for assistance with two fire trucks and six firefighters, the Meadow Lake City said.
The city said the fire resulted in the total loss of Waterhen Lake First Nation school, but all students and staff were safely evacuated from the building.
According to a Facebook post from the First Nation, the fire started on the roof of the industrial arts classroom.
“The school has been a long-standing building in the community and has many memories amongst our community members who attended. It’s a sad day for the community,” the Facebook post reads.
Waterhen Lake First Nation Chief Blaine Fiddler says the “devastating” loss of the school was preventable, and that the community saw the danger coming for over a decade now.
“In fact, this issue was highlighted numerous times across many leadership tables at all levels. We communicated that there was a pressing need for necessary upgrades and replacement in building materials to best meet contemporary safety standards,” Fiddler said in a statement.
Fiddler said Waterhen leadership past and present lobbied through multiple governments to advocate their need for a new school to no avail.
“It’s truly unbelievable that the school many of us were in yesterday congratulating all of our 2024 graduates is gone,” he said.
Waterhen Lake First Nation is located about 300 kilometres northwest of Prince Albert.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.