06/04/2026
Community effort shines in wildfire response
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By JORDAN TWISS
Shellbrook Chronicle Reporter
A week ago, washed out roads and inundated farm fields were the top-of-mind concerns for residents of the R.M. of Shellbrook.
But on a dime, the Lobstick wildfire pulled them from the flood and cast them into the fire.
According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), the blaze kicked off in the Nisbet Forest in between Duck Lake and Prince Albert on Tuesday, May 26. Though it was initially believed that the fire was started by an ATV, the SPSA has since attributed it to a lightning strike.
Fueled by dry, hot conditions and blustering southeasterly winds, the Lobstick wildfire blazed a path through the forest over the next few days, despite the efforts of SPSA crews and local fire departments to contain it.
Over Wednesday and Thursday, billowing smoke from the growing fire blanketed the Shellbrook area, but it remained at a safe distance from the surrounding communities. As an additional safeguard, however, local and provincial fire bans were put in place.
The situation changed rapidly on Friday, as the fire grew by 1,300 hectares throughout the day to reach a size of 13,000 hectares and jumped across the North Saskatchewan River, posing a more immediate threat to Holbein and properties in the southern part of the R.M. of Shellbrook.
The rapid spread of the fire prompted the SPSA to issue an evacuation order for R.M. of Shellbrook residents who live 1 mile west and 5 miles east of Shellbrook and south of Highway 3, as well as an evacuation alert for Holbein and the areas south of the hamlet.
Though the fire posed no immediate threat to the Town of Shellbrook, long-term care residents and acute care patients at Parkland Integrated Health Centre were also evacuated as a precaution. The hospital remained open for emergencies.
To assist with the evacuation response, the Shellbrook Community Hall was set up as a registration area, and members of the Shellbrook Kinettes stayed at the facility to assist evacuees.
As of Monday afternoon, the evacuation order and evacuation alert remained in place, and an estimated 130 people had been evacuated from their homes to communities as far away as Warman.
Christine Strube, Reeve for the R.M. of Shellbrook, said those residents won’t be able to return home until the SPSA declares the fire contained. However, she expressed optimism that things were heading in a positive direction and praised the community for coming together.
“I’m feeling incredibly overwhelmed with gratitude. The support we are receiving from this amazing community, local services and surrounding areas has been nothing short of astounding. We are truly blessed to live in a place where people show up for one another,” she said in a statement.
“The statement ‘Better Together’ is the best way I can describe what we are experiencing here, and this situation is evidence of that. This collaborative spirit is what makes our municipality strong every single day.”
To assist the community in preparing to evacuate, Lake Country Co-op opened its Shellbrook Home Centre on Friday night, and kept the gas station and C-store on Highway 3 open late (with cardlock pumps available 24/7).
Meanwhile, numerous area residents offered up their properties for those in need of a place to evacuate to.
On Sunday morning, the Shellbrook Kinettes put out a call for donations of baked goods to help feed local fire crews and contractors, including members of Shellbrook Fire and Rescue. They received an overwhelming response of both food and monetary donations from local community groups, businesses, and individuals.
Per the SPSA’s update issued Sunday, May 31, at 3 p.m., the Lobstick fire hadn’t grown from its largest reported size of 19,000 hectares, and posed no immediate threat to any new values or structures.
Helped by rain showers over the weekend and increased humidity, retardant lines were holding, and crews and equipment were continuing efforts to contain and extinguish the fire with a combination of water and fire gel.
The SPSA noted that Holbein was 11 kilometres away from the fire’s northeast boundary, and had been surrounded by irrigation lines and perimeter sprinkler heads as well as a fire guard on the community’s southwest corner. Additionally, Shellbrook Fire and Rescue was on-hand to extinguish any jump fires.
“We ask that the public limit vehicle traffic in the affected areas, including the reception area in Shellbrook, to allow emergency services and first responders to respond accordingly,” Reeve Strube said.
With the fire situation ongoing and evolving, Reeve Strube said any offers of services or assistance can be directed to [email protected].
For local evacuees, she reminded them that food security payments will be made to those who have registered with the SPSA and are staying with family and friends.
Those who evacuated but haven’t registered with the SPSA can do so by making an account at: https://app.saskecs.ca/
In the meantime, any questions regarding the state of the fire should be directed to the SPSA at [email protected] or 1-855-559-5502.
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