From floods to fire, RM of Shellbrook remains in emergency mode

It’s been weeks of relentless emergencies for those living in the Shellbrook area.

“We just got through the flooding emergency. We just barely got through that, and kind of felt like we were in the clear for a while and could breathe, and then this hit,” the Rural Municipality (RM) of Shellbrook’s Reeve, Christine Strube, said.

It’s meant that everyone’s had to stay in emergency mode, according to Strube.

Read more:

• Sask. Premier Scott Moe addresses Lobstick Fire
• Lobstick Fire grows as 130 people evacuated near Shellbrook
• Lobstick Fire: Shellbrook evacuees pack up clothes, passports and Barbies

The Lobstick wildfire forced an evacuation order on the evening of May 29 in the RM, impacting those south, east and west of the town of Shellbrook. Roughly 130 people had to evacuate.

As of Monday at 10:45 a.m., the order was still in place, without any indication on when it would be lifted, “because we cannot tell what the fire is going to do,” Strube said.

Though the community isn’t in the clear yet, by Sunday morning the wildfire had, “calmed down substantially,” according to Strube, with the town of Shellbrook said not to be in danger of burning.

Extra forces were brought into the community by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) to help. The focus, Strube said, is on protecting the power line that runs into Shellbrook from the southeast.

With the additional support, Strube said she is feeling optimistic that things will get under control and no one will lose their home.

It’s a relief for those in the RM and the town of Shellbrook, like resident Karen Arcand, who said Friday’s evacuation order was “unnerving.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this, this close to where I’m living,” she said.

Though she thankfully did not have to evacuate, the amount of smoke hanging over town, beginning last week into Saturday, had her worried.

Arcand had packed her irreplaceable items in case conditions changed.

“When you stand there and you have to pick and choose what’s most valuable for you, (it’s) my photos, my family photos, those Christmas ornaments, you know that I’ve had for 50 years,” she said.

With the Lobstick wildfire seemingly starting to ease up, both Strube and Arcand expressed gratitude.

Strube said fighting thefire has been a collaborative effort between the SPSA and fire departments to extinguish the blaze, and local groups and businesses helping evacuees and providing essentials to first responders.

Arcand echoed that appreciation, adding how she’s thankful for the communication about the fire’s spread.

“You don’t want to be in anybody’s way, but you also want to be notified too, so I’m grateful for that,” she said.