By Jeremy Simes
In June, a wildfire tore by the northeast Saskatchewan village, situated close to the Manitoba boundary.
The 33-year-old mom’s dwelling, alongside along with her office, burned down.
“My home and my job are gone,” Holmgren stated in an interview. “Every thing was incinerated. There have been folks digging by their homes discovering completely nothing. The home windows on my automobile have been melted down the facet of my automobile.”
Holmgren is amongst many within the tight-knit village of 700 choosing up the items after the hearth destroyed half the group.
She and her two daughters, ages 4 and 7, moved in with Holmgren’s mom in close by Flin Flon, Man. Her two canines are staying in her camper again in Denare Seaside as a result of it’s not appropriate for the pets to remain at her mother’s.
“My canines don’t get together with different canines. It’s simply been hectic,” Holmgren stated. “I’m 33 years previous and I don’t wish to stay with my mother.”
The house of her daughters’ father was additionally scorched, she added.
“The four-year-old is taking it slightly tougher than my seven-year-old, however she’s simply been so sturdy.”
Denare Seaside is located within the Canadian Defend area, surrounded by the boreal forest and a lake in style for fishing and boating. Vacationers flock to the village every summer time, staying in cabins or resorts, doubling the inhabitants.
However for many who stay in Denare Seaside year-round, discovering a brand new dwelling has been onerous.
Holmgren stated she’s seen leases go for $1,000 per thirty days plus utilities, which is excessive for the market. She had paid $800 per thirty days for a four-bedroom home with a double storage.
“Everyone seems to be skyrocketing their costs,” she stated.
Jennifer Hysert additionally misplaced her dwelling and enterprise within the fireplace. She stated her household resides in a camper that’s inside a warehouse in Flin Flon till they will rebuild.
Hysert stated whereas residents have pushed by to get their group cleaned up rapidly, some are “jacking up” lease costs or charging extra for different necessities.
“When 500 folks go homeless, it’s not straightforward to search out lodging for everyone,” she stated.
Village councillor Karen Thomson stated she’s conscious that costs for every part are going up.
“It’s unlucky,” Thomson stated. “Individuals could take a look at is a chance that insurance coverage is paying for it. It’s not one thing I agree with however that’s what occurs.”
In the meantime, the Saskatchewan Public Security Company has begun putting short-term trailers in Denare Seaside and close by Creighton to accommodate residents. Some have been anticipated to maneuver in initially of this month.
The company says rents begin at $680 per thirty days for particular person items. For multi-family items, it’s $1,360 to $1,700 per thirty days.
“The short-term housing items are anticipated to help the wants of the displaced people and households as they rebuild,” it says in a press release.
Holmgren stated the short-term trailers don’t attraction to her. The trailers could be cut up into two separate items, or a household can stay in the complete trailer for the next value.
There will even solely be two trailers in Denare Seaside, with most to be positioned in close by Creighton. “It’s simply actually onerous to determine the place you wish to be and what you wish to do, particularly with such restricted choices,” Holmgren stated.
Thomson stated the trailers in her village have been rented out and she or he’s heard residents are happy with them.
“We would like folks to be snug,” she stated.
Thomson stated the village will want monetary help because of an anticipated lower in tax and utility revenues. She and different councillors met Premier Scott Moe late final month to debate concepts, however the assembly got here as a shock and left native officers feeling “ill-prepared for significant dialog,” she stated.
Moe, whose authorities has been criticized by residents for a scarcity of preparation to struggle the blaze, didn’t promote he was heading to the group.
Nearly half of the province’s water bomber fleet was grounded through the worst of a wildfire season that noticed 10,000 pressured to flee. The province has stated it deployed crews to Denare Seaside as rapidly because it may.
Hysert needs solutions. “I’m actively working to carry them accountable for his or her negligence and for retribution,” she stated.
Thomson stated whereas it was “a very darkish summer time,” she stays optimistic.
“I consider that we’re going to rebuild and we’re going to have households again,” she stated. “Our firefighters labored tirelessly to carry that fireplace again and it simply overcame them.”
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Denare Seaside home costs Jeremy Simes Prairies Regional saskatchewan The Canadian Press wildfire
Final modified: October 5, 2025