'Heaviness in your heart,' La Ronge, Sask. resident talks fears as Fort McMurray burns

Kandis Riese discovered her love of photography at age nine, in La Ronge, Sask.

She is the fourth generation of her family to call the northern Saskatchewan town home. Her grandfather taught her to appreciate all its wonder through the art form.

"There's just too much beauty around mein northern Saskatchewan," she said of her lifelong pastime.

"I kind of make it my mission to let people know about northern Saskatchewan," Riese said.

Rieseand thousands of other northern residentswere pushed out of their homes due to massive wildfires that tore through hundreds of thousands of hectares, destroying the homes of animals and humans alike.

It remains the largest evacuation effort in Saskatchewan's history and Riese hopes it stays that way.

Riesesaid she was forced to flee onto the wateras flames pressed in around her.

"I was in a boat and I was absolutely in shock at what I was looking at," Riese said. "I was looking at my childhood playground totally burnt up."

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Fears in LaRongeintensify

As Canadians watch the horrific scenes from the fires in Alberta play out on national media, Riese explained a distinctive fear has set in over La Ronge.

"Pretty scary what's happening in Fort McMurray because they could have been us," she said.

Riese explained that right now, fire is top of mind for the people in her community.

"There's just a heaviness in your heart," she said. "You don't know if you have a home to come back to or if your town is going to be destroyed."

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Close call comes early

La Ronge resident Kandis Riese captures helicopter preparing to fight fire

8 years ago

Duration 0:48

La Ronge resident Kandis Riese captures a helicopter scooping up water to fight a local fire.

Recently, a fire broke out in La RongeandRiese captured a helicopter filling with water to fight the blaze.

"I believe people are fearful because they're well aware what nature can do," she said.

Riese explained that last summer, fires blocked access to the one highway in and out of the community, cutting off the flow of supplies and food.

You're almost like a zombie because you're completely displaced.- Kandis Riese