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Officials in southeast Saskatchewan are warning residents of a “fast-moving wildfire” that destroyed some minor structures and threatened several homes on Star Blanket Cree Nation and Little Black Bear First Nation.
Although the fire was contained Sunday, the File Hills First Nations Police Service notified the public late Monday afternoon it had reignited, jumped the road and was continuing to spread.
Michael Starr, a councillor for Star Blanket Cree Nation, said he was sitting at home on Sunday when his phone started to blow up with messages. He said he looked up to see heavy smoke outside of his window.
“It just kept on going, like the wind, and it’s so dry out here. It’s not even funny,” Starr told CBC News on Monday of the initial blaze.
He watched as flames came racing into the community, approaching a home and destroying a shed.
“It just grew so fast,” said Starr.
Const. Travis Rosborough with the File Hills First Nations Police Service said he was the first one to arrive on scene after the fire broke out around 3 p.m. CST on Sunday. He was travelling down Highway 10 when he saw a large plume of smoke.
“I noticed that the smoke conditions were changing, different colours,” said Rosborough.
Firefighters from all four First Nations in File Hills, as well as the Balcarres Fire Department, worked together to fight the fire, he said.
“We did have to evacuate a couple residences just due to the imminent danger of fire that was encroaching on their residences,” said Rosborough.
“Luckily, with the collaboration of all the fire services that did arrive, they were able to protect those homes.”
Dean Lerat, chief of police for File Hills First Nations Police Service, said the wildfire started near a residence on the east side of Star Blanket Cree Nation before moving into the neighbouring Little Black Bear First Nation.
He said two adult males have since been identified as responsible for starting the fire by burning cardboard boxes. Lerat added charges under the provincial Wildfire Act are being considered.
“People just have to be mindful of fire bans and mindful of the wind and the weather conditions before they consider doing any type of burning,” he said.
Police said no injuries were reported as a result of Sunday’s fire.
The investigation remains ongoing.
