A wildfire near the northern Saskatchewan community of Buffalo Narrows has forced the village to issue a state of emergency.
Mayor Sandy Ericson said Monday that many residents evacuated the community because the smoke is affecting their health.
She said the loss of electricity has also made it difficult for people trying to stay cool.
“It’s hot, so it’s not a good combination,” Ericson said. “We’re just trying to keep everybody who is here in the community safe and hopefully we can get more vehicles out.”
The fire in the Buffalo Narrows region reached 25,000 hectares, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said. It jumped the only highway that leads into the village, causing it to close down.
Power lines have also caught fire, causing the power outage.
Ericson said dozens of people left by bus or took their vehicles before the highway closed.
She said the village is working with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency to escort more people out safely through the highway so they can head south for services.
Those who left have been given accommodations in Lloydminster, she said, while others are staying with family in Prince Albert, Meadow Lake or Saskatoon.
Ericson said the fire so far is not threatening homes in the village.
“We do have some housing that we may have to take some precautions for, but right now (the fire) is going the other way,” she said. “When the wind changes, we don’t know what’s going to happen.”
