Saskatchewan fire evacuations grow after blaze breaches La Ronge airport

By Canadian Press on June 3, 2025.

LA RONGE — The latest wildfire evacuees in Saskatchewan are being told to head south to Prince Albert after being ordered to leave the northern town of La Ronge.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency issued an evacuation order Monday for the 2,500 residents of La Ronge, as well as those in nearby Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, after a wildfire breached the town’s airport.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Canadian Red Cross say they are working to move more than 45 acute-care patients and long-term care residents from the La Ronge Health Centre and care homes.

The out-of-control fire was fast moving and listed at more than 836 square kilometres in size as of Monday night.

La Ronge resident Terry Ross said he was still in town helping to get a few people out.

“I’m just picking up people who don’t have a ride, bringing them to (the community centre), helping them register and then leave,” the 48-year-old said Tuesday morning.

“I do know the majority of the town has left.”

Ross said despite the thick, smoky air and strong winds, the evacuation so far has been smooth.

“I know one car overheated on the highway. But other than that, it’s been good.”

Ross said he plans to meet up later Tuesday with his children, who left La Ronge on Monday and are now safe in Saskatoon.

SaskTel, via the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s website, said an outage was affecting internet, cellphone and landline phone services in the area.

The agency also issued air quality alerts for parts of Saskatchewan due to fires burning in northern parts of the Prairies.

About 8,000 residents were already displaced by burning in Saskatchewan, while dozens of fires in neighbouring Manitoba have sent more than 17,000 people from their homes, including 5,000 residents of Flin Flon.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2025.

The Canadian Press