After wildfire flames breached the La Ronge airport and prompted a community evacuation Monday, Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson issued a clear message to evacuees: stay on the road and do not turn back.
“Pilot vehicles are leading traffic through Highway 2 south. Please do NOT turn around,” she posted to the La Ronge Community Facebook page. “Expect long lines and delays.”
Evacuations began late Monday morning, with residents of Wadin Bay, English Bay, Nemeiben Subdivision and Sucker River IR being first to get the order. Hall Lake, Clam Crossing and Sikachu began evacuating in the early afternoon.
Shortly after 6 p.m., the Saskatchewan Provincial Emergency Communications Centre issued the evacuation order for La Ronge and communities within a 20-kilometre radius. At the time, the fast-moving Pisew fire was burning just north of the La Ronge Airport, fuelled by wind gusts reaching 80 kilometres an hour.
Evacuation area
- La Ronge
- Air Ronge
- Lac La Ronge Indian Reserve
- Napatak
- Eagle Point
- Lamp Lake
- Rabbit Creek
- Potato Lake
- Sikachu
- Clam Crossing
- Hall Lake
- Sucker River
- Nemeiben
- English Bay
- Wadin Bay
La Ronge Evacuation Zone.
Screenshot by Shootin’ the Breeze, SaskAlert, June 2, 2025
Cook-Searson urged residents to head south if they could do so safely, or to proceed to the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre for busing.
With traffic moving slowly on Highway 2, some evacuees were turning back. The chief used social media to urge residents to stay in the vehicle convoys co-ordinated by highway crews, keep hazard lights on and travel safe.
Important information for residents
Those self-evacuating are asked to register at the Days Inn in Prince Albert or at the Prince Albert Grand Council Urban Services office at 1211 1st Avenue West, beside the Gateway Mall. The PAGC, in co-ordination with the Red Cross, will assist at the site, providing meals and registration support.
A community notice from Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management (SFNEM) reassured evacuees that a safe, welcoming space was open and ready in Prince Albert.
“We understand this is a difficult moment. Please take your time and travel safely. You’re not alone — we’re here for you every step of the way,” the notice read.
Chief Cook-Searson urged those still in La Ronge to register at the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre.
Evacuees using bus transportation can bring only one small bag and pets are not permitted on buses or in designated shelters.
Montreal Lake Cree Nation is providing several 15-passenger vans and two additional buses to assist with transportation from the same location. For help or more information, evacuees can contact Dean Henderson at 306-961-1673 or Lionel Bird at 306-981-5434.
Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation has opened its RezCross Emergency Evacuation Centre for anyone in need. Evacuees can contact the centre at 639-212-7077 for more information.
Regional support
Buckland Fire and Rescue redeployed Tanker 57 and a crew from Weyakwin to assist with structure and infrastructure protection efforts La Ronge.
Buckland Fire Tanker 57 is in La Ronge assisting with structure and infrastructure protection.
Buckland Fire and Rescue Facebook
Sasktel and SaskPower outages
Sasktel outage area – Internet, wireless and landlines.
Screenshot by Shootin’ the Breeze, SaskAlert, June 2, 2025
Adding to the emergency response challenges, SaskTel has reported outages affecting Internet, wireless and landline services in all areas directly north and northeast of La Ronge. This includes La Ronge itself but not areas to the northwest. Creighton, Deschambault Lake, Pelican Narrows and Jan Lake are also impacted.
Work on SaskPower outages was put to rest for the night due to the wildfire situation and will resume in the morning.
Stay Informed
Residents are urged to continue monitoring SaskAlert for official updates and evacuation instructions.
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