SASK. NDP JOINS EAST TROUT LAKE FAMILY DEMANDING ANSWERS OVER WILDFIRE MISMANAGEMENT

Swiderski family loses long-time home, ashes of parents, grandparents

SASKATOON – A father and son from East Trout Lake are standing with the Saskatchewan NDP to demand accountability from the Sask. Party government after a devastating wildfire destroyed their home and community — and the province failed to act in time.

Doug Swiderski has lived in East Trout Lake for 55 years after his parents bought a home there when he was six. Years later he built a new home on the same spot, where he kept the ashes of his parents after they passed — just as they had asked. That home, and the ashes inside, were destroyed in the fire.

“That cabin meant everything to mom and dad, so it meant everything to me,” said Doug. “I would’ve done anything to save it. But the government let our home and the ashes of my parents burn.”

Doug and his son Nick say they warned government officials about the growing threat of the wildfires but were dismissed outright.

“We raised concerns about the fire fast approaching East Trout and were laughed at,” said Nick Swiderski. “That was two days before the entire community burned. There was a complete failure to respond — to protect our homes.”

“The government failed the families of East Trout Lake,” said Jordan McPhail, Saskatchewan NDP MLA for Cumberland. “We need to know why this happened — and make sure it never happens again.”

The Swiderski family later learned that half of Saskatchewan’s air tanker fleet — which could have helped protect the area — was sitting grounded.

The Saskatchewan NDP has written to the Provincial Auditor calling for a full review of wildfire response and the grounding of the province’s air tanker fleet.

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