Joslynn Thedorf sums up her sleeping accommodations these days in two words: “Very squeezable.”
Thedorf, her 11-year-old daughter Hayleigh and their four dogs are sardined into a silver SUV in a Prince Albert, Sask., parking lot. They joined the convoy leaving left La Ronge earlier this week as wildfires advanced on the northern Saskatchewan community.
They’ve been living in their SUV since arriving because they can’t find a hotel room.
Thedorf has been through evacuations before and appreciates the stakes when the forest is burning. Her family is safe, her house is still standing and today, she’s got shampoo.
“It’s the little things. We’re displaced but we have each other. We’ll get through.”
Thedorf’s gratitude is echoed by other evacuees, but many are also raising questions about support for firefighters, the provincial response and ongoing communication issues.
Abigail Clarke, an evacuee from Wadin Bay, Sask., says it’s terrifying to be watching from afar, in Prince Albert, as she gets sporadic wildfire updates via social media from people who have stayed behind.
Dawn Hlady owns a business in Flin Flon, Man., and lives across the border in Creighton, Sask. She has been in Saskatoon this week, including on Monday when the prime minister and premiers were in the city for the first ministers’ meeting.
“It was very frustrating sitting in Saskatoon knowing that the premiers and all the politicians were there having their meetings. And you go online and you see them posting about the beautiful city. And how they’re doing this and that,” she said.
“Meanwhile, your whole life is burning down and nobody can even pick up the phone and answer your question.”
Viviana Ruiz Arcand drove from La Ronge to Saskatoon, arriving early Tuesday. Speaking at an Opposition NDP news conference, she said she considers herself lucky because she can stay with friends.
Arcand said money is becoming an issue for many evacuees.
“If you’re in a hotel, if that hotel has food service you may very likely be getting meals. If you’re not at a hotel or an evacuation centre, hey, you are on your own dime so you gotta figure it out,” she said.
“One thing that can make it better is grocery store vouchers for people that don’t have access to food, right? A gasoline voucher. So we’re not asking for donations, we’re not asking for handouts, we’re looking for support.”
Rebecca McCrimmon lost her home in Denare Beach, in the province’s northeast. She wonders whether the government could better support firefighters.
“I really wish there was more support from the air on the fire earlier on because, if they would have had the support, we might still have had homes,” she said.
“We’ve been hearing that from a few people, it really seemed like there was a lot more resources put in on the Manitoba side of the border.”
Abigail Clarke from Wadin Bay, north of La Ronge, said this year’s response to the fires seems less extensive than a decade ago.
“We had bombers flying everywhere,” she said.
“This time there seems to be a really big lack of resources being utilized, which is quite disappointing to see.”
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