Waskesiu business operators remain calm about park wildfire
Waskesiu business operators say they aren’t worried about the Rabbit Creek wildfire coming their way — unless Parks Canada releases new information.
“As a business owner, what I am doing is attending all the update meetings, and I get daily updates from Parks Canada. When they say there’s going to be, if there’s an evacuation notice I will start preparing for that event. But until they say there’s an evacuation order, it’s business as usual,” said Cathryn Strawson, owner of Lake Life clothing store.
“We’re working, my staff is here, we’re just sitting tight. Until I am given reason to worry, I am not worried.”
Business hasn’t slowed because of the fire, and seems to be about the same as usual for the month of May, she said.
“It’s always typically fairly quiet at this time of year; this is considered our off-season. Once we get over the long weekend in May, things quiet down until after the 15th or so of June, once school starts getting out — and then the park starts to pop, we get into high season and it’s business as we know it.”
Janice Fagnou at Outer Limits said business is proceeding as usual there as well.
“It hasn’t been too bad. Looking around in here, there’s probably 10 people in here right now,” she said, adding she’s pretty confident everything will be OK and the fire won’t head their way.
“We did get some rain last night, so everything is feeling very optimistic at the moment.”
Environment Canada has predicted more rain — as much as 25 mm on Friday evening, with potential for another 10 mm into Saturday, including thundershowers.
Although the provincial fire ban on Crown lands in Saskatchewan has been lifted, a fire ban still remains in place for Prince Albert National Park.
Updates on the Rabbit Creek wildfire can be found on the Parks Canada website, pc.gc.ca/en/pnnp/sk/princealbert/securite-safety/feu-fire.