Raging wildfire destroys 13 Flotten Lake cabins
John Michael and his wife owned their cabin at Flotten Lake, a subdivision of Meadow Lake Provincial Park, for 38 years — until it was lost over the weekend to the Tuff wildfire.
“We were shocked that this really happened. We just can’t believe it yet,” he said.
The couple had been worried about the fire because their cabin was located with a tight group of others in a forested area.
“If there was ever a fire we’d be in trouble, and that’s exactly what happened,” Michael said.
They don’t yet know if they will rebuild, but it’s been a great place to live, he added.
“It’s such a beautiful lake and the place to spend time with the family and many friends within the Meadow Lake Provincial Park, particularly Flotten Lake subdivision.”
Steve Roberts, executive director of wildfire management for the province, confirmed that 13 cabins and several outbuildings were destroyed by the fire over the weekend.
“Crews continue to work in that section, as that is the most active part of the fire at this time,” he said.
As of Tuesday morning, the central Saskatchewan wildfire, known as the Tuff fire was 6,528 hectares in size and still not contained. The Tuff fire was also responsible for the evacuation order for the Waterhen Lake First Nation.
Nine helicopters, 17 pieces of heavy equipment and more than 250 personnel are working to contain it.
“The southern parts of that fire are reasonably contained, but the northern portions of that fire remain active at this time,” Roberts said.
Jason Kirilenko isn’t one of the cabin owners, but he still felt the shock and sadness of losing the campground where he spent summers as a kid. His parents began camping at Flotten Lake in 1977, and the family has camped there ever since, he said.
“(I) grew up camping with the same families year after year. We all became very good friends — people from all over the province.”
One of his fondest memories is spending the first two weeks of July at Flotten Lake in the same campsite every summer, he said.
“As soon as school was out we went to the lake. We met our friends from the prior year and spent the best two weeks a kid could spend with friends we had met, year after year. Fishing, swimming, hiking, fish fries, exploring the islands, (there was) so much to do. And it was true camping, no running water, no electricity. I had my own little boat and spent hours exploring the lake,” Kirilenko recalled.
“I wouldn’t trade those memo- ries for anything.”
He hopes the campground and cabins can be rebuilt in the future, he added.
“There are many people who love this little spot. Maybe the fire can be a rebirth of sorts.”