La Ronge Mayor: residents anxious to return home

People from wildfire evacuated communities up north are clamouring to go home, including those from La Ronge.

It’s been just over a week since they were chased away, and the mayor says it’s been tough.

“Residents are obviously tired and want to come home, and whether it’s in Prince Albert, Cold Lake, or Regina, it’s not home,” said Thomas Sierzycki.

He said La Ronge residents have been contacting him, anxious to be able to get back to the community.

It’s difficult for residents, but Sierzycki said it’s also difficult for emergency workers,

“A week is a long time to be away from home, but we’re going to do everything in our power to bring people home when it’s safe,” Sierzycki emphasized.

He said they’re looking at days to go back, but there is no real timeline. They’ve been having good days, but he said there are several things that need to be checked off a list before people can head home. 

“The last three days the CAT-lines have been holding, those are good steps toward the resolve of people coming home. But at the same time, it’s a very serious situation that can change very drastically.”

While people are gone, Sierzycki said RCMP are doing property checks and looking out for anything suspicious in the town, and fire crews are doing their best to keep flames and embers away from the town.

“Everything, essentially, is being done that we can do to prevent anything from happening to people’s possessions and people’s property.”

Sierzycki is staying in Air Ronge, about a kilometer away from La Ronge, where many emergency workers are based, and he made sure to express his thanks for the men and women protecting his community.

lschick@rawlco.com
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