600 soldiers join Saskatchewan fire fight as blaze nears La Ronge

Emergency officials in Saskatchewan say a large wildfire threatening one of the biggest communities in the north was stable Tuesday, but they feared a shift in wind could change the situation.

The blaze, which had come within 1.5 kilometres of La Ronge, a town of 2,700 people, was one of hundreds burning across Western Canada.

Six hundred soldiers from Edmonton have joined the fire fight in Saskatchewan. Of those, 360 were to complete a condensed day of training before going to work on fire lines Wednesday.

Another 500 troops from Shilo, Man., were ready to be called in if needed.

“They’re just getting this one-day quick refresher course to make sure when they’re out and in the fire zone they are operating safely,” Defence Minister Jason Kenney said.

“It’s not often the Canadian Army is called upon by the provinces to assist with forest fires, but this is a big one for Saskatchewan. We’re happy to oblige.”

Steve Roberts with Saskatchewan Wildfire Management said once the military had received training, it would be offered to other groups such as First Nations that want to join the firefighting effort.

He said other Saskatchewan residents with previous training have also volunteered and they will be added to the 600 firefighters who have been working in the north for nearly two weeks.

Fires and thick smoke have forced an estimated 9,000 people from their homes in more than 50 communities. About a dozen homes, remote cabins and other structures have been destroyed.

Nearly 4,000 square kilometres have burned in high-priority fire zones — more than 10 times the annual average.

Duane McKay, commissioner of emergency management, described fire conditions in the province as “fairly dire,” although the biggest of the 113 active fires had stopped growing.

He said the boost in resources was bound to help.