Forest Fire Smoke Prompts Residents To Leave Stony

Forest Fire Smoke Prompts Residents To Leave Stony

Friday, June 13, 2008 at 13:57

Provincial officials say 75 people from Black Lake and Stony Rapids have left their communities in the past few days over concerns about smoke from forest fires.

While emergency social services personnel haven’t issued an evacuation notice, they confirm some elderly and high-risk residents have been moved to Prince Albert and La Ronge.

That number also includes people who were away from the community when the smoke moved in and were not allowed to return.

There was no rain in the area yesterday, but Saskatchewan Environment spokesperson Jeanette Krayetski says the weather is helping to calm the blaze.

While an increase in humidity is slowing the fires a bit, she says there is also a slight worry it may result in a smoldering effect causing even more smoke.

People in the communitities are still being asked to stay indoors and to block off their windows and doors.