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Displaced for nearly a month, residents of Sandy Bay have been given the green light to return home now that a wildfire which threatened the community is moving further away.
Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN), which oversees Sandy Bay, made the announcement Monday night on social media.
“After careful consideration and consultation with fire, health and infrastructure experts, the leadership of PBCN has made the decision to officially rescind the evacuation order for Sandy Bay,” said a statement issued by the First Nation on Tuesday morning.
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The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) says the 44,899-hectare fire is still out of control but has moved far enough from the northeast Saskatchewan community that it no longer poses an immediate threat to residents.
Crews from the Yukon are currently assisting Saskatchewan firefighters in battling the blaze. Irrigation is being utilized as well as helicopter and air tanker support.
The First Nation said buses out of Saskatoon were prepared to bring residents back home starting Tuesday morning and through to Thursday. Care packages containing essential supplies were also being distributed to residents upon arrival.
“Our leadership team is fully prepared to ensure your homecoming is smooth and safe,” said PBCN’s statement.
Essential services, including grocery stores, health services, gas stations and the RCMP are open to the returning community. Power, potable water and sewer systems are also fully functional, says the First Nation.
PBCN has advised residents to follow instructions from its staff and co-ordinators, and to also take their time getting back home.
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“There is no rush; we want everyone to return safely,” said the statement. “This has been a challenging time for us all, but your resilience and patience have been appreciated. As you make your way home today, we wish everyone safe travels.”
The PBCN community of Southend, which is about 106 kilometres northwest of Sandy Bay, still remains under an evacuation order as the nearby Merkley wildfire rages on. More than 700 residents were asked to leave the area on Aug. 28 as the wildfire approached Highway 102, threatening the only road in or out of the community. The fire has since reached 32,600 hectares.
As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, there were 54 wildfires burning in the province, nine of which were still considered out of control, says the SPSA.
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