Selena and her son, Jade, were visiting Prince Albert when they heard people at home in Air Ronge were evacuating because wildfires and heavy smoke threatened their community.
The news meant they couldn't return home, not even for a toothbrush, Selena recalls.
Instead, along with their neighbours in northern Saskatchewan, many headed to one of the shelters operated by Red Cross on behalf of the provincial government. Selena and Jade are staying at the Saskatoon shelter. They say they're thankful that they have everything they need now.
"Everyone here has been so nice and it's just so good to be able to breathe," said Selena. "It was so smoky at home it was hurting just to take a breath."
Selena and Jade at Saskatoon shelter
To date, about 10,000 families forced to leave their homes have registered with Red Cross. Those at shelters have a safe place to sleep, meals, clothing and whatever personal items they need, like toothbrushes, shampoo or diapers.
Harry McLeod, pictured left, who evacuated from Stanley Mission, says while he wishes he was at home, his stay in Saskatoon has gone well.
“I like it here. I’ve been sleeping well. The food is good and I feel safe,” says McLeod.
Last week, McLeod visited the Saskatoon zoo and thought that was ‘kind of cool.’ He was able to see many animals he had never seen before, and particularly liked the buffaloes, cougar and the llama, he said.
Recently, another woman at the Saskatoon shelter approached Red Cross workers to express her gratitude.
“Red Cross treats the people so good. Lots of security, the food is good. No complaints here,” said Sarazine from the Dillon area.
To date, Red Cross is providing assistance to people from about 54 communities in northern Saskatchewan.
Red Cross volunteer Jack Neal has been working at a Saskatoon shelter for about a week now. Yesterday, he was talking with an older man who had learned it was safe to return home. But before he left, he said to Neal: "I just want to tell you how much I appreciate what the Red Cross has done for us.”
“I still get a little teary-eyed thinking about it," recalled Neal. "This man must have been so excited to be able to finally go home and he took the time to stop and tell us he appreciated us. It was really heartwarming.”