VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER FROM DENARE BEACH SPEAKS OUT, DEMANDS PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO WILDFIRE CRISIS

Sask. Party Continues To Duck True Accountability For Unprecedented Disaster In Saskatchewan’s North

REGINA – A heroic volunteer firefighter who, along with a few others attempted to save Denare Beach from the raging Wolf fire, headed to the Legislature Wednesday to speak out about how the Sask. Party abandoned his community — and to demand that a truly independent public inquiry finally be called.

“Last week, the Premier of this province apologized in the Legislature and then immediately rejected our demand for a public inquiry,” said Harley Vliegenthart. “If Tim McLeod cannot commit to what is right for the province — and will not admit to his faults — the very least he can do is stand up for the people and step down from his position as the minister responsible."

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“To me this is about three things — restoring confidence in the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, closure for thousands of people forced from their homes and communities and reassurance that the response will be better next time, that this will never happen again.”

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Eleven volunteer firefighters, Vliegenthart among them, stayed back with very minimal reinforcements and attempted to protect Denare Beach as the Wolf Fire raced to the community. Across the border in Manitoba, hundreds of firefighters were dispatched to protect Flin Flon as fire neared.

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Flin Flon was spared. Denare Beach burned to the ground and hundreds of families from the community remain displaced to this day.

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As well, desperately needed water bombers remained grounded during the height of the crisis due to Sask. Party management failures. Countless residents forced from their homes in the North had to sleep in tents and their cars due to a failure to provide emergency accommodations. To this day, some evacuees never received promised support payments as they shelled out thousands of dollars for accommodations while away from home.

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The wildfire crisis — and resulting questions — have already prompted two independent investigations. The Sask. Party has also committed to a formal review led by MNP; however the Sask. Party remains in control of the scope of the investigation.

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Last week, the Sask. Party shot down a motion from Saskatchewan NDP Northern Affairs Shadow Minister Jordan McPhail to launch a truly independent public inquiry led by a retired judge that would be able to compel witnesses and testimony from anyone involved in the crisis, including Sask. Party Ministers and SPSA emergency officials.

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“The Sask. Party wants to hide the true scope of its failures from the public,” McPhail said Wednesday. “They won’t listen to Harley and thousands of others who lost so much during this crisis."

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“It’s clear that after 18 years, this government has stopped caring about the very people it was elected to represent. My message to Premier Scott Moe and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod is this — we won’t stop."

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“The people of the North will keep coming forward to demand accountability and changes to ensure a disaster like this never happens again — my colleagues in the Saskatchewan NDP and I will be with them every step of the way.”

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