When fire approached the northern Saskatchewan community of Beauval last week, it forced residents to flee their homes quickly, not knowing if they would be able to return.
Then when news came Thursday that the fire had reached the village about 340 kilometres north of Sasaktoon, their worries intensified.
The Beauval emergency operations committee posted on Facebook Thursday evening that the fire destroyed a seasonal canteen building at the local recreation grounds. But as of Friday morning, Beauval Mayor Rick Laliberte confirmed no homes had been lost so far. That came as a massive relief to many, including longtime resident Shirley Martin.
“We have awesome firefighters, awesome people up there that did an awesome job to save homes,” she said. “I’m very grateful for those men and women up there for what they’re doing.”
Martin left with her granddaughter on July 3 and has been in a Saskatoon hotel for more than a week.
“At first I guess you could say it was OK, but being away from home for nine days is quite different,” she said.
RAW | Wildfire enters village of Beauval, Sask., and begins burning property
Wendy Eldridge, a former deputy mayor of Beauval, has taken on the role of community liaison at the Saskatoon Travelodge, where many evacuees are staying.
“There was lots of anxiety amongst us all yesterday,” she said. “A lot of people have left pets behind and lots of people have family members that are on the front lines and volunteering back home.”
Eldridge says her daughter narrowly escaped on Thursday as the fire got dangerously close.
“She had to literally drive through flames,” Eldridge said. “She called me and she was scared. She said it was like out of the scene of a movie.”
While many of the evacuees are staying in Saskatoon, Eldridge says others have been sent to Moose Jaw and other cities. She says that while co-ordinating the evacuees has been “chaotic,” she’s working to keep them busy.
“We’ve got lots of activities planned for the kids, and some for the elders as well.”
Eldridge said the community has come together to support each other.
“There’s been a lot of volunteerism. This is what people do when, when times are tough. You stick together.”
Despite the emotional toll, Martin said the strength of the community has helped carry her on.
“We’re all holding out,” Martin said. “I know we’re all going to go home.”
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