PAGC Briefing Wednesday July 12, 2015 @ 1100h

PROVINCE WIDE WEATHER

Today: A surface trough slowly moves towards the northeast giving mostly cloudy conditions with scattered showers to the southern half of the province and a mix of sun and clouds with isolated showers to the northern half. It will also give a risk of thundershower activity to all of the province except the far north.

Tonight: The surface trough will continue to give mostly cloudy conditions with isolated showers to the south of the Churchill River as well as in southern . The northern half of the province will have a few clouds. There is also a chance of thundershowers for the forested area south of Reindeer Lake-Clearwater River.

Outlook for Monday: Mostly cloudy conditions with rainshowers to all of the forest south of the Churchill River It will also give cloudy conditions with rainshowers to the northern part of the Agricultural Zone.

Smoke: Smoke is not expected to be a problem today.

Highways

New Road Closures (Fluid)  Hwy 102  Hwy 914  Hwy 916  Hwy 955 from  Hwy 969  Hwy 965 (Cluff Lake Road)  Hwy 2 North at the Hwy 264 Jct  Ramsey Bay Road  Hwy 2 North at Jct.  Elaine Lake Road  Hwy165 West of the 910 Jct to Beuaval  Hwy 937  Hwy 165 East Of Beauval

Public Fire information:

For provincial fire reports, fires activity maps and fire danger maps go to: http://www.environment.gov.sk.ca/fire

1 PAGC Briefing Wednesday July 12, 2015 @ 1100h

PAGC WILDFIRES OF INTEREST: INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 15WY – MLIR13 North of Montreal Lake, 4,100 ha Not Contained (Montreal Lake) east of Hwy 2.  Montreal Lake Reserve, at risk.  Montreal Lake Reserve, Timber Bay evacuated  Buckland and Smeaton Fire Departments in Montreal Lake, handling spot fires.  Helicopters, crews working with dozers, values protection in place.  Crews worked to extinguish hot spots at Waskesiu River Road (Off Hwy 2).  Continue patrol hot spots off of Waskesiu Road and around the subdivision  30 military personnel deployed  Better conditions helping progress in extinguishing hot spots.  Jul 11-Fire line around community holding  Jul 11-No significant fire growth  Jul 11-Helicopter bucketing to support crews on fire line.  Jul 11-Line construction and perimeter containment moving outside and away from community.

INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS East and North of 15WY – PHILION 105,000 Not Contained Weyakwin  Weyakwin, Ramsey subdivision, and the Provincial Rec Site at Weyakwin, Highway 2, Sasktel Tower at risk.  Weyakwin, Ramsey subdivision evacuated.  Six Type 2 crews and two Type 1 crews working at Weyakwin town site including Carlyle Fire Department.  Crews working with dozers and heavy equipment north of Weyakwin, tying into unburnt fuels to cut block. Water hauling equipment is supporting the crews.  Fire Department is working at Ramsey Bay on hot spots.  65 military personnel assist on new hot spots.  Fire has burned up to the outer limits of the Northern Hamlet of Weyakwin and the Ramsey Bay Subdivision.  Crews are working along the major road corridors to reduce smoke and fire issues  Jul 11-Slight fire growth on NW edge  July 11-Continue to protect values at Ramsey Bay with catline and perimeter containment.  July 11-Secruring road corridors and fire perimeters in/around Weyakwin.  July 11-Continuing to protect values in Weyakwin with sprinkler systems.

2 PAGC Briefing Wednesday July 12, 2015 @ 1100h

Other Fires of Interest as of July 10

INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS Surrounding the north 96,271 ha (merged with 15LA-EGG end of the airport, and ELI) Not Yet Contained 1.5 km west of  Areas Impacted: La Ronge, Wadin Bay, Nemeiben Lake, Sucker River, English Bay and Highway #102.  All fires in the region - All previously announced evacuations remain in effect.  Egg and Eli fires have now merged, and will now be referred to as the Egg Fire  60 man army unit and Ontario crew assisting atthe La Ronge Airport and to the east of La Ronge  30 man army unit assisting at Wadin Bay and Sucker River  30 man army unit assisting at English Bay  Wadin Bay and Nemeiben Lake campgrounds have burned and will be closed for the remainder of the year

INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 5 km east of Laloche 15BN-MACK 15 km SW of Turnor Lk 27,911 ha Not Contained 6km north of Bear Crk  La Loche, Bear Creek, , Clearwater River Nation, Bear Creek, Hwy 155 and Hwy 909 at risk.  La Loche, Clearwater River, and Turnor Lake on full evacuation.  Ground crews with trucks, cats, helicopters active.  13 ground crews with trucks, 4 cats, 3 helicopters active.  Cooler and more humid weather allowed firefighters to work on the fire which did not grow.  The Brady fire and the Mack fire are approx. 3.5 km apart on the north east corner of the fire

INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 15LX-SENYK 2 km west of 85,000 ha Not Contained  Community of Pinehouse, Cabins on Seymore Lake at risk.  Pinehouse evacuated ~50 residents remain as of July 5 (community task force).  Pinehouse leaders requesting residents start returning to community on Friday.  FCA Manager recommends that Pinehouse remain evacuated due to direct fire threat.  Hot dry weather today  Fire will likely be more active today.  Fire crews continue to work on the cat line protecting the community INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS North of La Loche approx. On going 15BN-BRADY 14 km north of 92,000 ha assessment Clearwater Dene Nation.  Clearwater Dene Nation, La Loche, Hwy 955 (Cluff Lake Road) at risk.  No resources on the fire. Observe fire and watched closely to protect values.

3 PAGC Briefing Wednesday July 12, 2015 @ 1100h

 A finger of the Mack fire is within 3.5 km from the SW corner of the Brady Fire. INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 15BN-MALLORY 22 km south of Turnor 6100 ha Not Contained Lake  Turnor Lake at risk.  No resources on the fire  24 km from Turnor, 15 km from Bear Creek INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 15LA-BOB 40 km northeast of La 24,545 ha Not contained Ronge  Miles Lake, McKay lake at risk.  VP crews continue to maintain water systems and sprinklers systems active.  Crews on SE part of fire, supported by 2 helicopters INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 15LX-BOB West side of Hwy 903 800 ha Not Contained north of Canoe Lake  Hwy 903, McKay Lake at risk.  Fire laying low July 10 with high humidity INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 15LX-FORCIER 8 km North of 173,941 ha Protecting Values  Patuanak, English River First Nation, cabins on Primeau Lake at risk.  Patuanak, English River evacuated.  Fire active on south side of fire  Expecting dense smoke. INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS West of Vermette Lake Ongoing 15BN-BRAY 62,000 ha and South of Dillon Lake Assessment  Vermette, Dillon and Little Dillon Lakes at risk.  It is confirmed that 3 cabins burned on Dillon Lake (all belonging to the school) and 1 cabin burned on Dillon River  Set up three VPs on Cabins  Fire lying low today. Fire did not grow much. INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 16 km north of 17,062 ha 15LA-BRIAN FIRE Not contained Grandmothers Bay  Dickens Lake, Grandmothers Bay, Hailstone Lake at risk.  Dickens Lake, Grandmothers Bay, Hailstone Lake evacuated.  Fire is ~15 km northwest of Grandmother’s Bay  The fire crossed highway 102, approximately 1 km north of Dickens Lake Rec Area  The fire line to the SE was holding as of noon  Also monitoring the Marcus Fire ~ 4 km to the south of Grandmother’s Bay

4 PAGC Briefing Wednesday July 12, 2015 @ 1100h

INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS West of La Loche, on 15BN-CLAY 3,940 ha Not Contained west side of Lac La Loche.  Clearwater Dene Nation and La Loche at risk.  Crews, helicopter active on fire.  Hot dry weather today, potential for crossover.  Fire will likely be more active today. INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 2 km west of Hwy 155 Ongoing 15LX-SUDDEN north of Green Lake at 6,300 ha Assessment km 60  Derocher Lake and Highway 155 at risk.  Active fire forecasted for today.  July 10th The fire was very smoky this morning  Ground crews working the east and west side of the fire laying hose INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 53 km northeast of La 15LA-BEAR 6,301 ha Not Contained Ronge  VP units are deployed on values and running.  INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS West of Upper Cummins Ongoing 15BN-JAYLEEN 12,250 ha Lake Assessment  Niska Channel (at south end of Little Peter Pond Lake) at risk.  Dillon, Michel Point, St. George’s Hill smoke issues  Active fire forecasted for today.  The fire is still approx. 1 km from HWY 925 and 30 km away from Dillon and St. George’s Hill.  Fire crews continue to work the north end of the fire. INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 15LX-SHERRI 3 km West of Beauval 1 ha Not Contained  Beauval, including Segamayak subdivision; Amyott Lake subdivision at risk.  Fire no longer a threat. Last report for this fire, all equipment and tools removed. INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 15LA-STOWERS 37 km southwest of 904 ha Not Contained La Ronge  Hall Lake, Clam Lake, and Sikatchu.  Hall Lake, Clam Lake, Sikatchu under general evacuation.  Two crews working the west and eastern edges of the fire line

5 PAGC Briefing Wednesday July 12, 2015 @ 1100h

INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 15LA-LYNX 24 km Southwest of 329 Not Contained 2 km north of Hwy 915  Highway 915, south of Stanley Mission at risk.  Fire at north side of road and risk of spreading to south side or road at km 6 into Stanley Mission

INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 15LA-FRANCIS 16.5 km Northwest 2,689 ha Not Contained of La Ronge  5 to 7 values on Williams Peninsula Comments/Actions  Ongoing assessment. INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 15LA-CAREY 41 km Southwest of 200 ha Not Contained La Ronge Values @ Risk  Values at Mitchell Bay, Hunter’s Bay, Pickerel Bay  MOE cabin at Hunter’s Bay Comments/Actions  Ongoing assessment.

INCIDENT LOCATION SIZE (Ha) STATUS 15DB-VANCE 8.5km west of 12,979 ha Not Contained Deschambault Lake Values @ Risk  Deschambault Lake Comments/Actions  Two crews with helicopter support being deployed to northeast corner to begin securing line towards the community.

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