Note: This story is a live file and will be updated as new information arrives. This story was last updated at 11:30 a.m. Friday.
Staff members from The Reminder have evacuated Flin Flon, but will keep writing updates as long as possible during the emergency. If you have questions or concerns you would like us to chase or add here about the fire, evacuations or anything else, please notify us at [email protected].
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A day after Flin Flon leaders announced re-entry would take place next Wednesday, Creighton and Denare Beach have followed suit. Their plan, announced Friday, will see people return three days before Flin Flon officially opens its doors.
The Town of Creighton and Northern Village of Denare Beach both announced their own re-entry plans June 20, going into effect June 22 for Creighton at 6 a.m. local time and for Denare Beach at 8 a.m. local time. Flin Flon's plan, which was announced June 19, will go into effect June 25. Much like Flin Flon's plan, the dates hinge on the fire remaining stable and favourable weather conditions - if the situation worsens, the date may change.
"Please be advised that the fire is still listed as volatile and remains out of control. You may be subject to further evacuations if required and be put on a further evacuation notice," reads a statement issued June 20 from the Northern Village of Denare Beach.
Saskatchewan Highway 106 - the Hanson Lake Road - is still closed coming into the community according to the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline, but the closure will be opened in time to welcome people in June 22. In Denare Beach, a reception centre will be set up for people at the DenarePlex - people are also asked to register there on arrival. Local fire bans are still in effect for both communities.
"Please be prepared, be patient and drive safe," reads a June 20 statement by the Town of Creighton.
The return comes with a long list of conditions. For Denare Beach, the re-entry is limited to permanent residents only - seasonal residents will receive an announcement at a later date. While permanent residents will be allowed back, the evacuation order for the community will stay in place - that means there will be a roadblock, with identification and proof of residency checks, on the way into Denare Beach on Highway 167.
"The roadblock on Highway 167 will remain in place to allow only Denare Beach residents and those who have homes on Highway 167 through at this time," reads the Village's announcement.
The only road access to Creighton and Denare Beach will be through Saskatchewan - Manitoba Highway 10 is still closed at the Sherridon turnoff and will likely remain so until Flin Flon officially reopens June 25, meaning the only way into the area is through the Hanson Lake Road. Anyone coming into Creighton or Denare Beach will also not be allowed in Flin Flon until the community opens up later this week. People who live in Creighton and Denare Beach but work in Flin Flon may not be able to do so and there will not be access to Flin Flon General Hospital or any operational businesses.
"There is a lack of medical services, essential services and motel accommodations as well as no access to Flin Flon until their evacuation is lifted," reads the Town's statement.
"Residents are only permitted to enter through the Saskatchewan side on Highway 106 (the Hanson Lake Road). Proof of residence may be required (driver's licences and health cards for your children)."
"All residents must enter through Saskatchewan as the mandatory evacuation order remains in place in Flin Flon - no Saskatchewan residents will be allowed through the roadblocks on Highway 10. There will be no access to Flin Flon at all once you have returned," reads the Village's statement.
With no access to stores in Flin Flon, people are asked to bring supplies with them - according to the Village, a week's supply each of groceries and essentials, pet food and medications, as well as cleaning supplies and drinking water.
People with high risks of health complications are also being asked to stay away for now - services at Flin Flon General Hospital are limited and, under current evacuation rules, Saskatchewan residents may not be able to access the hospital at all until Wednesday.
People who have lost homes in the area are also asked to find a place to stay before arriving in Denare Beach - no campers will be allowed at what the Village calls "disaster sites" - areas of heavy property loss.
In Creighton, the Town is also asking people to only leave home for work or necessities, as fire crews based out of the area are still working. The Creighton Community School grounds will be off-limits for the public - the area has been used by fire attack helicopters during the fire fight and will still be used that way when people arrive.
The great northern fire, according to Natural Resources Canada, has burned over 500,000 hectares of land between the two provinces. Hotspots are still being found at different areas around the fire. While the Town of Creighton has not seen structures lost due to the flames, Denare Beach has seen heavy losses, with dozens - potentially hundreds - of homes and cabins destroyed. The destruction happened June 2, when a fire that had been burned west of Amisk Lake was carried by high winds east, first to Missi Island, then all the way across it and to the community itself.
Co-op
Meanwhile in Flin Flon, the community's biggest grocery store may have some teething problems getting back open.
Official social media channels for the North of 53 Consumers' Co-op store shared Friday that the store's refrigeration system was lost during a blackout as part of the fire fight, meaning everything inside the store will need to be disposed of and all equipment deep cleaned. That, combined with the store working with only a small number of employees, will mean service there will be limited once Flin Flon reopens.
"As the majority of employees are not allowed to come back until June 25 and they will need time to go through their properties as well, there is a very limited number of employees here right now," reads the statement, issued by Co-op store general manager Randy Dumenko. The store will be open only from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on a temporary basis during the early stages of re-entry.
"There will be no specialty orders, no phone-in orders and no delivery services. We will only have our four U-Scans available at this time and we will be cashless. There will be a very limited selection of all perishable products - that includes meat, deli, produce, dairy and bread, so please ensure that you bring food and supplies with you. It will take time to restock the store once our employees are back to work."
Dumenko's statement says the store may not be up to full staff and inventory until the second week of July, but both of the Co-op's cardlock fuel stations - one in Flin Flon and one in Creighton - are operational and will be open.
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