Denare Beach rebuilding at remarkable pace: deputy mayor

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The Wolf fire had a devastating impact on Denare Beach as it destroyed 230 homes, representing nearly half of all residences. The municipality was fortunate, however, to have essential infrastructure such as the village office, as well as water and sewer treatment plants left untouched. 

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Denare Beach had a population of approximately 825 residents before the wildfire occurred and Thomson noted they know not everyone will be coming back. 

Denare Beach was heavily impacted by the Wolf fire in June 2025. (Image Credit: Linda Lowe/Facebook)

“They may be at the age where they have been given an opportunity where ‘What do we do? Do we rebuild or do we move on to that next phase of our lives?’ You know, later 60s, early 70s. They are opting to move into… that next stage of their lives,” she said. 

“There are some who got an attractive buyout from insurance, so they opted to take the money and go buy a house in Flin Flon or maybe somewhere else.” 

When it comes to wildfire preparedness, Thomson believes the community is in a better position than it was in 2025. For instance, mitigation efforts have been ongoing with local fire crews and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency. 

Denare Beach Fire Chief Seth Fernandez stated the goal is to become more independent when it comes to wildfire preparedness and firefighting. 

“Our focus is specifically on the wildland urban interface. The Denare Beach Volunteer Fire Department (DBVFD) has invested in a 20-foot enclosed trailer completely equipped with pumps, hoses, sprinklers, fittings, and a variety of tools necessary for structure protection during a wildfire,” he said. 

“The trailer will be stored, managed and maintained within the community by the local volunteer fire department. To best support the community, the DBVFD has also sourced wildland urban interface specific fire training. The specialized training, paired with immediate access to equipment, allows for rapid and strategic deployment inside the community.”   

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com