‘Taking our lives back’: Denare Beach commemorates one year since devastating wildfire

Tuesday marked one year since the Wolfe fire devastated the community of Denare Beach. As Stacey Hein reports, residents came together to reflect and heal.

One year after the Wolf Fire destroyed more than 200 homes and structures in Denare Beach, residents gathered on the shores of Amisk Lake to reflect on the devastation and the community’s resilience.

Kari Lentowicz was among those who returned to the northern village only to find their homes reduced to ashes.

“It was devastating. Absolutely devastating to see that happen,” she said.

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Like many residents, Lentowicz remains displaced a year later as she continues to work through the insurance process.

“I’ve spent over 200 hours on just my contents list alone,” Lentowicz said, noting she is only halfway through it.

“Scope of work and all that kind of stuff for my house, I don’t even know how many countless hours I have spent on that.”

Jennifer Hysert said the community was not considered to be at immediate risk when her family left, so she took only the essentials.

“Once you left though, the list got really long as to what you wished you had taken,” Hysert shared.

After being sent a video showing her home had been destroyed, Hysert said knowing was easier than the uncertainty, but nothing prepared her for seeing the damage in person.

“It’s very surreal to drive in and you’ve seen the videos, but there’s no preparing for what that actually is,” she said.

She said she spent the winter living in an RV parked inside a warehouse while rebuilding her home.

As recovery continues, homes have been moved into the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation community in Denare Beach. On the municipal side, Deputy Mayor Karen Thomson said 11 homes have now been completed, with more on the way.

“When you drive through the town and you see where we were and where we are, it’s utterly impressive,” Thomson said.

She said the one-year commemoration is a chance for residents to heal, reflect and recognize how far the community has come.

“We have done such a tremendous job here at the village taking our lives back,” she said.

Thomson noted conditions in the area are dry and there are parallels to last year, but the community is prepared should another wildfire threaten the area.

While the recovery is far from over, residents say the past year has shown the strength and resilience of Denare Beach.