麻豆视频

NORTH BATTLEFORD  — It was a harrowing experience for evacuees staying in North Battleford as they recounted leaving the wildfires up north.

Many gathered at the Northland Power Curling Centre on Thursday where meals were being served and donated clothing and toiletries were available to pick up.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) hired a local business to provide the meal services, while Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC) and Moosomin First Nation are partnering on shuttle services for evacuees requiring transportation while they are in North Battleford.

Evacuee Carmen Charles was with her partner Donovan Sanderson and four children when they left La Ronge four days ago.

"On June 3, we made it to North Battleford," she said. 

They arrived in North Battleford at about 5:30 a.m. after leaving La Ronge at about 7:30 p.m. the night before. 

"It was actually pretty devastating watching the community burn and watching the surrounding areas burn," she said. "It was not near our house. We have a house, we're located in Air Ronge. As we're leaving south of La Ronge, probably a half hour out of La Ronge, that's when we started seeing the fires crossing around the highways and the burning and the thick smoke."

"We were in line probably for like three hours," Charles added.

She said at one point they had to turn around in their vehicle because people were told a fire crossed. "So we turned around," she said. "But as we turned around, we were told to turn back and keep going on the highway. So that's what we did, and we just drove through it."

Charles is also an expectant mother so that added to her stress.

"It was a long drive," she said. "The kids had to cover their faces because the smoke was too thick as we were driving by. Hard to see, I guess," Charles added. "Yes, I was very thankful for the trailer in front of me, because they had a big camper trailer, and those lights are what guided me through the smoke."

Now that she is in North Battleford she is thankful she and her family are safe.

"I'm not that stressed as I was because we have a roof over our heads. We have food in our bellies and my kids are happy," Charles said.

Evacuee Jennifer Cheng escaped from La Ronge on June 2 with her husband, sister, two daughters and two friends.

They arrived in North Battleford on June 3.

She said it was a scary and hard experience for the family leaving from La Ronge.

"We were travelling and there was fire on both sides of the road," Cheng said. "There was thick smoke, so smoke was getting in our car while we were driving."

To get the alert it was time to leave La Ronge, Cheng said the family was checking their Facebook page for updates.

"The heads of the town always gave updates there," she said. 

The family picked up some donated clothing and toiletries on Thursday to help with their stay in North Battleford.

Cheng and her family have a house in La Ronge, so they are hoping it stays safe during the fires in the area.

Evacuee Minnie Charles, from La Ronge, said she appreciates all the support available in North Battleford since she and her family arrived.

She picked up some meals for her family at the Northland Power Curling Centre on Thursday.

"It was very sad," Charles said on how she felt leaving La Ronge. "It was very scary."  

She arrived in North Battleford on June 3 after leaving La Ronge on June 2.

Charles left La Ronge with her children on the evacuation bus.

She received an alert on her phone when it was time to leave.

Charles said she is hoping to be able to go back home soon.

"Our prayers will be answered, I'm sure," she said. "I have faith."