NORTHERN INTER-TRIBAL HEALTH AUTHORITY
WILDFIRE UPDATE
DATE:
July 16, 2015 (15:30)
PURPOSE:
2015 Wildfire Event – Internal Update 16/07/2015
PREPARED BY:
Patrick Hassler, Emergency Response Coordinator
MHO
 NITHA MHO continues to work with community leaders, ESS, and
WFM to address repatriation of communities on a case by case basis
based on the following;
1. Fire threat
2. Smoke threat
3. Available medical services
4. Availability of potable water, utilities and critical
infrastructure.
 Health Surveillance is in place within the shelters
 Health inspections are taking place frequently at the shelters
 Hand hygiene is being promoted at the shelters
 NITHA MHO is engaged with the PAPHR MHO (Dr. Chokani), Alberta
Health Services MHO (Dr. Yacoub) and RQHR MHO (Dr. Tania) on
regular basis.
 Discussions with the MHO`s, Red Cross and Sask Health Emergency
Management Branch surrounding patient tracking and locating. Current
system is meant for family looking for other family members, this
system is not working well for the purpose of surveillance tracking.
 10 animal bites – Please note that these incidents still need to be
reported to the MHO`s to ensure proper follow up and treatment.
 Repatriation Document sent out and sent to be posted on PAGC
portal.
 Updated repatriation considerations and current smoke/fire
recommendations today. (14/07/15)
 14/07/2015 – Meeting with the Red Cross and ESS addressing the
issue of phased repatriation and the need for the Red Cross to ensure
they are following the recommendations of community leaders within
the rescindment documentation regarding what priorities are returning.
Documentation regarding priority client definitions was shared with the
Red Cross to post at shelters to help alleviate some confusion.
 Repatriation logistics for the LaRonge area – Noting that some
demographic within the evacuated population may not be able to return
home as evacuation orders are rescinded. This smaller demographic
could be negatively affected if critical services/support they may
require are not available at the LaRonge hospital if the general evac is
not lifted for LaRonge.
Emergency Social Services (ESS)
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10392 people receiving support from ESS/Red Cross
4774 Prince Albert
1033 Regina
3531 Saskatoon
256 North Battleford
798 Cold Lake
170 Beardy`s
37 Muskeg Shelter
9 Meadow Lake
Wildfire Management
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See maps below
500 military personnel arrived to support ongoing efforts.
Armed forces are assisting on fires.
Thunder storms moving into the area this afternoon and more rain
expected Friday.
Red Cross
 See Emergency Social Services update
 NITHA staff continue to assist Red Cross with Volunteer services in
most activities including registration of evacuees
P Hassler, ERC
WildFire Event – NITHA Update 2015
Page 2 of 12
 Issues surrounding Cold Lake such as food, services for persons in
hotels and fuel issues for persons between Cold Lake and Lac La
Ronge who self-evacuated are being sorted out.
 A change in voucher systems has created some confusion. Daily
vouchers were issued previously now multi day and or larger sum
vouchers are being issued and vendors are not giving vouchers with
day and or sums still remaining on them. This is to be corrected
promptly.
 Those evacuees who previously chose not to have a bracelet or lost
one, but need one now can present to reception centers for them.
 Rotational workers who are not able to return to their homes on their
week/s off can register for services at a reception center.
 Clients from Regina Evras (?sp) Center will be moved to Saskatoon as
the center is booked for a venue and must close as a shelter.
Mental Health Addictions
 NITHA Mental Health and Addictions Advisor has been attending the
Inter agency planning group meeting weekdays and weekends (will be
taking July 18/19 weekend off- but can be reached by cell if required).
 PAPHR has been offering additional Mental Health support at the
evacuation centers (and on the weekend; currently Brett Enns reports,
these services are rarely utilized so far). The detox unit is full, it was
often full prior to the evacuations.
 All Evacuation Centers/Shelters have primary mental health supports
from their communities, from 2nd level partner counsellors and mental
wellness teams. PAGC, MLTC, PBCN, LLRIB. The Wellness and
Holistic Centre at PAGC is also full with evacuees.(Mental wellness
and many other supports are also being gratefully utilized from STC,
Beardy’s, Atahkakoop, and other area First Nations). It should be
noted that the Community and Tribal Council teams are very likely the
reason that provincial health workers are seeing few MH requests.
 NITHA MHA Advisor is also filling a scheduled round with PAGC
Teams and on call or standby for additional hours or advice as needed.
EMFS
 Working on the many fires in way of values protection, manpower,
equipment and coordination. Personnel continue to work with
communities in their areas to help support their operational needs.
P Hassler, ERC
WildFire Event – NITHA Update 2015
Page 3 of 12
 Value protection equipment is moving from areas that the threat has
decreased and is being deployed in other priority locations.
PAGC
 Set up an Emergency Operations center in Prince Albert at PAGC
Health
 Information line setup (844-813-2921) and is being manned from 8-5
daily for information regarding all evacuation locations and public
updates from stakeholders.
 Information Portal online pagc.sk.ca
 Holding daily operational debriefing teleconference
 Currently supporting many evacuation needs including transportation,
health, support, recreation etc.
 Sent a team of 6 to Cold Lake to support evacuees.
 Montreal Lake general evac due to fire
 Working to conduct training of fire fighters and coordinating with
stakeholders.
Nursing
 Health services available at the evacuation centers appear to have
slightly different availabilities of services.
 Generally all evacuation centers have nurse practitioner coverage
being delivered with support from Nitha, RHA, FNIHB, Evacuated
community health staff as well as staff from 2nd level Partners.
 It is requested that health concerns from within one of the shelters
should be first brought to the attention of onsite health so that they can
coordinate care through community health members.
 Some issues around infectious diseases (chicken pox) and head lice
are currently being addressed and monitored. At this time these are
reported as minor.
 Increased complaints of sore throats being monitored and swabbed
 Immunization services are being offered at the Prince Albert shelters.
Turn out has been low
 Many pts seen over the weekend by RN-NP
 Nursing coverage hours have been increased in Prince Albert.
P Hassler, ERC
WildFire Event – NITHA Update 2015
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 Scheduled Rn/NP coverage for Prince Albert is posted on PAGC web
site. Pagc.sk.ca
 PA Inn and Best Western = mini clinics set up with 2 nurses at each
site for bulk of the day
 Travelodge/Ramada/ Quality Inn – roving nurse and PAPHA Home
Care supporting 2 clients at Quality Inn
 Cold Lake – 2 nurses
 Saskatoon – 1 nurse
 Allen Bird Center – 1 nurse
EHO/Infectious Control
 PAGC EHO`s and inspection staff are assisting communities to
conduct air quality tests to help guide leadership decision making for
smoke related evacuations
 NITHA Environmental Health advisor is briefed and engaged in this
process
 NITHA advises communities to use the current (2013) Smoke and Fire
Guidelines along with MHO advice along with community health input
to guide this decision making
 NITHA ERC can be reached if emergency advice is needed at any
time.
 NITHA IPC Advisor providing technical support for PAGC in the
assessment and inspection of potential shelters in Beardy’s, James
Smith, Athakakoop, Muskoday, and Muskeg
 Condoms have been dropped off at shelters
 NITHA assisting in the procurement of Head Lice treatments for
shelters where cases have been identified.
Highways
 Please refer to the highways hotline
http://www.saskatchewan.ca/live/transportation/highway-hotline
LLRIB
 LaRonge, Hall Lake, Sucker River, Kitsaki under General evac due to
fire threat.
 Brabant, Stanley Mission, and Grandmothers Bay partial evac due to
smoke
 Now have full time person at Cold Lake to assist LLRIB members
P Hassler, ERC
WildFire Event – NITHA Update 2015
Page 5 of 12
 Rotational workers who are not able to return to their homes on their
week/s off can register for services at a reception center.
 Chief Tammy Cook-Searson put a call out for 200 firefighters to
volunteer. They received 600 and they were told it would be a week
before training. This process will have to be expedited.
 Confusion around returning people to Grandmothers Bay and Stanley
Mission. Priority persons were to remain evacuated and persons under
general evac were to return. Red Cross started sending everyone
home from these communities. This is currently being dealt with.
PBCN
 Southend – partial evac due to smoke
 Deschambault Lake – partial evac due to smoke/fire
MLTC
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Clearwater River – Partial evac due to smoke
Birch Narrows – Partial evac due to smoke
Canoe Lake – Partial evac due to smoke
English river – Partial evac
Buffalo River – Partial evac – TB patients and workers have remained
in the community so medications and tracking are available.
P Hassler, ERC
WildFire Event – NITHA Update 2015
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MAPS
Deschambault Lake
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LaRonge
P Hassler, ERC
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Montreal Lake
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Weyakwin
P Hassler, ERC
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MLTC Area
P Hassler, ERC
WildFire Event – NITHA Update 2015
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LaRonge Area South End Road
P Hassler, ERC
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