By Kathy Gallant

Tuff fire growing, claims 13 cabins and campground at Flotten Lake

May 22, 2018 | 1:48 PM

A wildfire which has been burning for over a week is still raging in the Meadow Lake Provincial Park.

The ‘Tuff’ fire has now grown to over 6,528 hectares and is uncontained according to Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. Last week, it forced an evacuation order for Waterhen Lake First Nation and Jeannette Lake.

Steve Roberts, executive director of wildfire management with the province said the fire is being worked on by over 250 personnel, 17 pieces of heavy equipment and nine helicopters, and air tankers as required.

“The southern parts of that fire are reasonably contained,” Roberts said. “But, the northern portions of that fire remain active at this time.”

He said he received word over the weekend the 13 cabins in the Flotten Lake subdivision were claimed by the wildfire, even though a sprinkler suppression system was set up by crews.

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Meadow Lake’s Kim Ackerman is currently travelling abroad with her parents who built the cabin over 40 years ago. She said she heard the news late Sunday from her husband Greg back home and other Flotten-based families.

She said the word devastated wasn’t sufficient enough to describe the heartbreak she felt.

“Words can’t express how saddened we are by the loss of our cabin,” she said. “Luckily no one was injured, but countless items that can’t be replaced were lost.”

She said aside from the many memories made over the years, the area was beautiful, and those who spent time at the lake have been close-knit neighbours for years.

“We have great friends at Flotten,” Ackerman said. “In fact [each year] when I book my holidays, we [all] let each other know so that we will see who is all going to be there.”

Jason Kirilenko, also from Meadow Lake, said he was saddened to hear the news of the fire. While he doesn’t own one of the 13 cabins, he and his entire family spent countless summers at the nearby campground which was also ravaged by the fire.

“I would say we were shocked,” he said. “We were told [by officials] the area wasn’t in imminent danger but then it changed in a matter of hours on Sunday. It’s just not going to be the same as it was, if ever.”

He said while no personal items were lost, his parents love it in the area, and met many people over the course of their camping there which started in 1977. 

“Thirteen cabin owners [possessions] were completely wiped out, there’s nothing left for them,” Kirilenko said. “They can rebuild and whatnot, but it It was so beautiful there. It’s going to take years to look that way again, if ever.”

Currently, no one aside from fire crews are allowed in the area, due to dangerous fire conditions and downed power lines.

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @ReporterKath