Wildfires destroy shelters of northern snowmobile clubs

In addition to rebuilding shelters, the trails will also need to be cleared and made safe again for recreation.

Nicole Goldsworthy / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Jun 16, 2025 1:51 PM

horseshoe-bend — Volunteers are already planning to rebuild all of the shelters that were lost in the fires.Courtesy of Twin Lakes Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club

NIPAWIN – In the northeast, wildfires have claimed 554,000 hectares of forest and destroyed homes, cabins and warm-up shelters.

Snowmobile clubs in the region have lost several warm-up shelters to the wildfires. Adam FitzPatrick, president of the Twin Lakes Trailblazers Snowmobile Club, confirmed to 麻豆视频.ca that the Horseshoe Bend shelter was lost to the wildfires.

In a social media post made after checking for hot spots along the trail toward Horseshoe Bend, firefighter Darcy McKinnon wrote, “It was hard to see this today [June 6], as I know how much work is put into a shelter by volunteers and members of the club.

This was one of the first shelters I had the pleasure of helping get set up for the Twin Lakes Trailblazers club. I don’t know how the picnic table made it through this with just minor damage, while everything else was burnt with tremendous heat. Not even the log splitter or wood stove will be salvageable from this fire.”

The Horseshoe Bend shelter was located at the intersection of trails maintained by the Torch River Riders, Esker Snowbears and Twin Lakes Trailblazers.

snowmobile-sign — The Shoe fire left many snowmobile shelters destroyed by the wildfires. / Courtesy of Twin Lakes Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club

FitzPatrick said, “The Twin Lakes Trailblazers insure our seven shelters through the insurance program of the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association. The Horseshoe Bend shelter was insured for $30,000.

“We are already planning to build a new shelter in Nipawin, thanks to the generosity and labour of our club members. We recently added the Ag World Shelter in Fort à la Corne, built entirely by our club members.”

In addition to rebuilding shelters, FitzPatrick said the trails will also need to be cleared and made safe again for recreation. The SSA has a disaster relief program to help repair trails and remove burnt wood from areas near the routes.

Other snowmobile clubs in the region have also suffered losses. The White Swan Snowmobile Club lost two shelters, and the Esker Snowbears lost four.

Esker Bear Trails Inc. Snowmobile Club said in a social media post that the trails leading to Pine Junction were devastated by the wildfires.