Community Notice Issued on Monday, June 9th, 2025 at 12:37 p.m.
LLRIB-EOC Emergency Update LLRIB. — Due to wildfire activities in our region, an ordered evacuation has been put in effect for Hall Lake, Sucker River and La Ronge. Only emergency, essential personnel will be permitted to travel north toward the region at this time. Here are the latest updates and urgent messages: Key Updates from the June 9th Meeting:
🔥 FIRE SITUATION & RESPONSECrews continue to work across multiple priority zones including: Hall Lake, Big Stone and Highway 2, 165 East, Sucker River, and by the Stanley Mission Junction.Active wildfires continue to pose a threat, but perimeters are being secured and breaches are being patrolled using infrared drone scans.• 250+ fire personnel are active on the ground with 60 more from First Nations and communities across Saskatchewan arriving today.• Air operations are limited due to thick smoke and cloud cover, which also affects satellite imaging and overnight scans.• Crews are operating dozers, water trucks, pumps, and helicopters where visibility allows.
📍 Priority Areas:• Hall Lake (SW corner and perimeter control)• Sucker River, Stanley Mission Junction• Brabant Lake, infrared drone scan will done to determine hotspots and the values protection units are still up.
🌦 WEATHER OUTLOOK• Temperature: 23°C• Winds: NW 15–25 km/h, gusting to 45• 60% chance of showers today• 10% chance of lightning• Smoke drift from Alberta and BC remains heavy; visibility is poor.
🧑🚒 FIRE SUPPORT & EQUIPMENT• Structural protection units have been demobilized in Hall Lake.• Drone scanning revealed breach spots requiring action.• New equipment delivered on Saturday has been received and is being deployed.• SPSA and SFNEM teams are leading efforts.
🛑 ROAD & ACCESS CONTROL• Highway 102 remains CLOSED north and south of La Ronge.• Access beyond Besnard Junction is strictly limited to essential workers and emergency personnel.• Do not attempt to bypass roadblocks.•
📞 Call the Highway Hotline: 1-888-335-7623
💡 POWER & UTILITIES• SaskPower is continuing to work to restore services, north of the La Ronge Airport, and crews are being housed at the Wellness Centre to speed up restoration.
📲 Register with the Red Cross for emergency lodging and support:
📞 Call 1-800-863-6582 for registration, accommodation info, or general inquiries.
🏥 HEALTH & EMERGENCY CARE• Fresh air shelters are open for those affected by smoke.• Mental health supports are active at evacuee sites and the ECOs.
🏘️ HOUSING & INFRASTRUCTURE• LLRIB is beginning assessments to replace homes lost in the fires.• Capital projects team will determine square footage and support needs.Thank you to all the volunteers, frontline workers, and partner organizations. Your continued patience and unity are vital as we face these difficult days together.We will share further updates as they become available.
— Chief Tammy Cook-SearsonLac La Ronge Indian Band Emergency Operations Centre
Community Notice Issued on Friday, June 6th, 2025 5:55 p.m.LLRIB-EOC Emergency Update LLRIB. — Due to wildfire activities in our region, an ordered evacuation has been put in effect for Hall Lake, Sucker River, Brabant, La Ronge, and Stanley Mission. Only emergency, essential personnel will be permitted to travel north toward the region at this time. Here are the latest updates and urgent messages:Key Updates from the June 6th Meeting:
🔥 FIRE AND WEATHER SITUATION• Fires are still active near Napatak (14 km away), La Ronge, Sucker River, Clam Crossing, Big Stone, and Sikachu. Heavy smoke is making it difficult for aircraft to assess and suppress some areas.• A weather shift has brought moderate southwesterly winds (14 km/h) and some light rain, offering a brief window to increase firefighting efforts. However, the risk of dry lightning and flare-ups remains high.• Fire retardant applied to some transmission poles has helped reduce infrastructure damage.• Helicopters, dozers, and ground crews are active; however, water bombers (215s) remain grounded due to smoke and coordination issues.
🚒 FIRE RESPONSE & RESOURCES• Incident Commanders are re-strategizing suppression efforts using heavy equipment and aerial units.• Equipment deployed includes:o 10 Type 1, 23 Type 2, and 5 Type 3 firefighting crews.o 6 dozers, 5 water trucks, 32 Mark 3 pumps, 473 hoses, and 34 sprinkler kits.• Generator and pump requests have been submitted. Delivery to Hall Lake, Sucker River, and Grandmother’s Bay is underway.• A lack of garden hoses and air scrubbers remains a concern; efforts are being made to source more.MANDATORY ROAD CLOSURE:• Due to active wildfire conditions, Highway 102 south of Stanley Mission is now fully closed to public travel.• Roadblock is in place at Besnard Junction. There is no access northbound past La Ronge unless you are emergency personnel or essential services.• Traffic travelling north is restricted to emergency vehicles and essential workers only. Access will only be granted to those on the official clearance list. This will be strictly enforced.• Southbound traffic is open to travellers moving through La Ronge.• This measure is in place to protect public safety and ensure emergency response operations can continue without disruption. Do not attempt to bypass roadblocks or access restricted areas.• Essential access requests: Contact the designated official with LLRIB, Air Ronge or Town of La Ronge for clearance.For current road conditions, contact the Highway Hotline at 1-888-335-7623 (toll-free).Further updates will be issued as information becomes available.
⚡️ POWER OUTAGES & COMMUNICATION Communities without power since Monday: Stanley Mission, Sucker River, Grandmother’s Bay, Hall Lake, La Ronge. Three transmission structures were destroyed by fire. SaskPower crews are working to restore service but there is no Estimated Time of Restoration (ETR). Communications remain limited. SaskTel crews are splicing damaged fiber optic lines near Waden Bay. Restoration time is TBD.
SASKPOWER UPDATE (as of June 6, 2025 – 8:25 AM):• SaskPower crews continue working hard to restore power to communities affected by wildfire-related outages. Due to active fire conditions and safety concerns, restoration efforts are taking longer in some areas.• Crews are currently assessing damage to poles and power lines north of La Ronge, which caused outages in Stanley Mission, Grandmother’s Bay and, Sucker River since Monday. Once the full extent of the damage is confirmed, additional crews and resources will be mobilized to support repair efforts.• At this time, there is still no estimated timeline for restoration due to the ongoing wildfire situation. SaskPower will provide updates as they become available.
📞 If you are in a wildfire-impacted area and have questions about your SaskPower service, please contact their Natural Disaster/Wildfire Team at 1-888-757-6937 (Press 4, then 8).
🩺 HEALTH, PRESCRIPTIONS, AND SUPPORT• Prescription services remain available at Harbour Pharmacy, Medi Centre, and Value Lots in Prince Albert.• All evacuees can access any pharmacy to fill medications.• For assistance:o Contact Matt Preston at GT Pharmacy or Jeannie Bird Clinic in La Ronge.• Physician clinics are being set up in Prince Albert and Saskatoon for evacuees.
🧠 EVACUEE SUPPORT & RED CROSS INFO• Red Cross is coordinating lodging, food, and shelter for evacuees across Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert.• EFTs of $300 per household have been issued. Of 3,772 eligible, 198 are still pending.• P1 and P2 evacuees still waiting for placement or transportation are being prioritized. Please remain patient while data is verified.• All evacuees from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band are encouraged to register with the Canadian Red Cross. This helps ensure you receive support, lodging, and emergency information.•
📸 Go to https://register.redcross.ca/en/registration/saskatchewan-wildfires-2025/, or Scan the QR code below to register:• • 📞 If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Canadian Red Cross at 1-800-863-6582. This number can be used for everything from registration to getting information about Red Cross-supported evacuation sites and services.
🦴🐕 DONATION DROP-OFFThanks to a generous donor, $8,000 worth of raw dog food has been donated and will be distributed to affected communities via JRMCC.
❤️ MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESSMental wellness visits are being arranged for evacuees in Regina and Saskatoon. Support lines are also being shared through local hotel contacts.
✅ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW• Self-evacuated families staying with relatives are still eligible for help – reach out to the Red Cross at the number above.
⚠️ REMINDER: This emergency is still unfolding. Please remain vigilant, reduce travel, and follow updates. We thank all frontline responders for their dedication and courage.
Thank you to everyone working on the front lines and supporting our communities and community members during this challenging time. We will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.
— Chief Tammy Cook-SearsonLac La Ronge Indian Band Emergency Operations Centre
SASKPOWER UPDATE (as of June 6, 2025 – 8:25 AM):SaskPower crews continue working hard to restore power to communities affected by wildfire-related outages. Due to active fire conditions and safety concerns, restoration efforts are taking longer in some areas.
Crews are currently assessing damage to poles and power lines north of La Ronge, which caused outages in Stanley Mission, Missinipe, Sucker River, and rural areas north of La Ronge. Once the full extent of the damage is confirmed, additional crews and resources will be mobilized to support repair efforts.At this time, there is still no estimated timeline for restoration due to the ongoing wildfire situation. SaskPower will provide updates as they become available.
📞 If you are in a wildfire-impacted area and have questions about your SaskPower service, please contact their Natural Disaster/Wildfire Team at 1-888-757-6937 (Press 4, then 8)
We thank everyone for their continued patience and understanding as work continues to restore essential services in our communities.
Lac La Ronge Indian Band Emergency Operations Centre (LLRIB-EOC)
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🚧 Road Alert – Highway 102 Closure 🚧Effective ImmediatelyHighway 102 south of Stanley Mission is now closed due to wildfire activity.
🚫 No public travel is permitted in this area.
✅ Northbound travel past Weyakwin is restricted to essential services only.
⚠️ All drivers are urged to avoid the area. This measure is in place to protect public safety and allow emergency crews to respond to the wildfire.Updates will be provided as they become available.—Issued by: LLRIB Emergency Operations Centre
Friday, June 6, 20255:02 a.m.Urgent Message for anyone in the Industrial Area in the Town of La Ronge, the fire is right behind the La Ronge Fire Base.
Thursday, June 5, 2025.6:49 p.m.Wildfire, Highway Closure, Power and Communications
🔥 Wildfire and Weather Conditions: Current wind conditions are approximately 10 km/h from the southwest in the Hall Lake and areas, and about 8 km/h from the south and southeast around La Ronge and Sucker River, with gusts up to 20 km/h. Winds are forecasted to shift westerly by Saturday, with a significant storm expected to bring between 10 to 60 millimeters of rain across different areas, potentially providing relief.
Minor flare-ups have occurred near Big Stone, Eagle Point, and north of Sucker River. Notably, a fire finger along Highway 165 is moving toward La Ronge and Clam Crossing. The fire is currently 2.5 km from Clam Bridge, less than 1 km from the Creighton turnoff, and approximately 23 km from Napatak to the joined fire point.
🚫 Highway Closure: Highway 2 remains closed from the Creighton Junction through Weyakwin due to fire threats. Traffic is halted at the Napatak turnoff to maintain safety. The highway closure significantly impacts SaskPower’s ability to restore power services.
⚡ Power Outage and Restoration: There has been no power or communication service in Stanley Mission, Sucker River, Grandmother’s Bay, Missinipe, and rural areas north of La Ronge since June 2. SaskPower crews have initiated damage assessments and will resume repairs as soon as it is safe. At this time, there is no estimated timeline for restoration.
📡 Communications Restoration: SaskTel has restored cell service this afternoon to Stanley Mission, Missinipe, Sucker River, Grandmother’s Bay, and northern rural areas. Crews identified and will temporarily repair two kilometres of damaged fibre north of La Ronge starting tomorrow, allowing permanent installation once safe.
🚒 Firefighting and Protection Efforts: Heavy equipment and value protection measures are underway at Napatak, with additional resources being prepared. Efforts are ongoing to establish fire guards and cat guards for enhanced community protection.
🛡️ Community Safety: Residents are urged to stay informed, adhere to safety advisories, and avoid highway travel in affected areas until further notice.We appreciate your ongoing patience and cooperation during these challenging circumstances.
Further updates will be provided as the situation evolves.
— Chief Tammy Cook-Searson
Lac La Ronge Indian Band Emergency Operations Centre (LLRIB-EOC)
SaskPower crews are working diligently to restore electricity to communities impacted by the wildfires. Safety is their top priority, and due to shifting fire conditions, restoration is taking longer in several areas.
There has been no power or communication service in Stanley Mission, Sucker River, Grandmother’s Bay, Missinipe, and all rural areas north of La Ronge since Monday, June 2, 2025.
Today, SaskPower has begun conducting district patrols to assess and map the extent of the damage. Crews are on the ground and will proceed with repairs and power restoration as soon as conditions allow.At this time, there is no estimated timeline for full restoration. SaskPower will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
For any questions related to your SaskPower service in wildfire-affected areas, please contact their Natural Disaster/Wildfire Team at 1-888-757-6937 (Press 4, then 8)
We appreciate your patience and understanding during this challenging time. Our team will continue to keep you informed as the situation develops.
Chief Tammy Cook-Searson
Lac La Ronge Indian Band Emergency Operations Centre (LLRIB-EOC)
