Home lost to northern forest fire, family must start over
Home on Sikachu Lake lost to forest fire
Geraldine Venne should be at work and three children should be busy with school. Instead, they are living in a hotel in Prince Albert, Sask., after having to leave their home near Sikachu Lake, which is west of La Ronge, on Friday due to a forest fire in the area.
"It was hard," Venne said Tuesday. "Very stressful. My kids didn't want to leave. I had to practically fight with them in order for them to leave with me."
The Venne family lost their home and belongings to fire. The family dog also perished.
Her children, 15, 14 and 10, are very upset.
"They're missing the dog and devastated about losing the house," Venne said. "Losing all our stuff."
The Vennes' home was one of three in the community that were destroyed by fire.
"[We're] starting all over again. I don't know how to go about it," she said.
More fires were reported in the La Ronge area on the weekend, bringing the total to over 50.
Around 1,100 people have been moved from the north to temporary lodgings in Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Many are staying in shelters set up by the Red Cross.
Here is the latest break-down from the Red Cross:
- 1,160 evacuees in total.
- 699 receiving assistance from the Red Cross (274 in Prince Albert, 425 in Saskatoon)
People are anxious to get news about what they left behind.
"There was six fire crews out at Sikachu and they got pulled out of there," Joan Kemp, Venne's sister, said. "So I guess they're just watching it burn. There might be nothing left. We won't know where to go."
Kemp has yet to learn about her own house in the community. She was among those who assisted with the evacuation of Sikachu.
Venne has a friend who offered a place for her family to live. It's in Hall Lake where Venne works. However, that community has also been evacuated.
With files from CBC's Ryan Pilon