In Denare Beach, residents will affirm that Rhonda Werbicki’s residence was the most popular Halloween destination in this northern Saskatchewan village.
“This year, we won’t be present for Halloween, and it’s truly heartbreaking for me,” Werbicki shared during a recent trip to Denare Beach. “I am an enthusiastic decorator and I go all out for Halloween.”
On June 2, a wildfire ravaged Werbicki’s family house along with over 200 other homes in the remote lakeside community in northeastern Saskatchewan, which included 24 residences on the neighboring Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation reserve.
Currently residing with family approximately 750 kilometers away in Gimli, Manitoba, Werbicki spent a few weeks in Denare Beach alongside her husband, who remained to spearhead the extensive cleanup effort of residential lots.
“Every aspect of my life feels completely altered right now,” Werbicki expressed, expressing her sorrow over the absence of routine activities such as coffee dates with friends.
Rhonda and Joey Werbicki are determined to rebuild their home in Denare Beach, which was lost to wildfire this summer. Rhonda is temporarily residing with her family in Gimli, Manitoba, while Joey oversees the cleanup in Denare Beach. (Jeremy Warren/CBC)
Engaging in conversation about everyday topics — Halloween, the weather, and the Toronto Blue Jays advancing to the World Series — allows residents to temporarily forget their unusual situation. Nonetheless, the impact of the wildfire and its consequences remains difficult to ignore.
“I went to Costco last week and felt completely fine while shopping. Then I spotted the Christmas tree and suddenly burst into tears,” Werbicki recounted. “Those emotions just hit you. I believe if you ask anyone here, they would express having felt the same.”
Christmas is her favorite holiday, yet this year will pose challenges, Werbicki acknowledged. She might be referring to her own family or the numerous families in Denare Beach who lost their homes.
“My Christmas tree was always a mix of various ornaments made by my children or gifts we received for our wedding, and all of that is now gone,” Werbicki shared.
“It’s going to be incredibly tough, but I refuse to linger on that. I want to move forward.”
A wildfire swept through the northern community of Denare Beach, Sask., at the start of June 2025, destroying 230 homes. Nearly five months later, the rubble and ash have mostly been cleared, and rebuilding has commenced.
Rebuild and recovery
In the weeks following the return of evacuees to Denare Beach, crews began the process of clearing debris and preparing land for new houses. Residents are impressed by how swiftly the town transitioned from charred wreckage to graded and serviced lots.
Throughout the summer, crews removed up to 8,000 tandem truckloads of debris and hazardous materials. Concrete and scrap metal left in the wake of the wildfire now sits in substantial piles, awaiting reuse or transport south.
An estimated 1,000 tonnes of scrap metal have been removed from properties in Denare Beach that were devastated by the wildfire. Much of it now rests in a large pile nearby, waiting to be taken south. (Jeremy Warren/CBC)
Brooke Kindel appreciates the significant efforts being made to prepare lots for new foundations and service lines. Her family resided temporarily in Saskatoon and Creighton, the nearby border community where many Denare Beach residents ended up after the fire.
Like many other families, the Kindels are racing against time to pour their foundation before winter arrives. Kindel mentioned they plan to construct a large shop to park a camper trailer in, which they will use as a living space until their new home is completed.
Brooke and Kyle Kindel, along with their three children, have been displaced since the wildfire destroyed their Denare Beach home. They are currently living in a one-room cabin while contractors construct a large shop, where they plan to park a camper to reside in during winter. (Jeremy Warren/CBC)
“We’re frustrated that this has happened, mourning the loss of our previous home, and also trying to comprehend why this occurred as it shouldn’t have happened,” Kindel said while walking through the lot where her family home used to be, holding her baby daughter who was born while they were displaced in Saskatoon.
Residents are also beginning to brainstorm strategies on how to encourage more people to relocate to Denare Beach, Kindel added.
“We’re somewhat apprehensive about what the future holds and trying to find ways to rebuild,” she expressed.
Significant areas of Denare Beach have been cleared of debris left by the wildfire that ravaged over 200 homes in the lakeside community. This now-cleared space previously housed homes and trees. (Jeremy Warren/CBC)
On the southern side of Denare Beach, Trevor Sewap is assisting in the preparation of lots on the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation reserve for pre-fabricated homes arriving from Prince Albert. The fire claimed Sewap’s house and 23 others on the reserve, but he is now helping his neighbors to rebuild.
“I’ve known them all my life, since I was a little boy, so it brings me joy to work here,” Sewap said during a break from constructing forms for a new foundation. “When I’m gone … my children will say, ‘My dad did that.’”
The First Nation has procured 24 replacement homes for its members in Denare Beach, with the first two set to arrive in November, according to Clayton Sewap, the band’s councillor for Denare Beach. He noted that a volunteer firefighting team that remained managed to save 11 homes and structures.
Clayton Sewap indicated that the First Nation is considering utilizing more “fire smart” materials for new constructions across its eight communities. He emphasized the importance of preparing for potential disasters.
“It happened in Lytton [B.C.], it occurred in Jasper, and it happened here,” he remarked. “Such events can happen anywhere, so it’s vital to be prepared, fire smart, and stay vigilant.”
Uncertain future
Rhonda Werbicki intends to rebuild her home in Denare, but she understands the hesitation others may feel about doing the same.
“I’m genuinely fearful of constructing something I cherish and becoming emotionally attached, only for it to be destroyed again,” Werbicki expressed.
Rhonda Werbicki lost her home in the wildfire that devastated parts of the northern community of Denare Beach, Sask., in June 2025. She speaks with CBC News at her empty lot about the emotional toll of rebuilding.
“At a recent town meeting with fellow residents who also lost their homes, the primary concern shared by everyone here is: Will it happen again?”
The provincial government has contracted a firm to review the response of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency regarding the wildfire and the mass evacuations that followed. The Opposition NDP is advocating for a comprehensive public inquiry.
Some locals, such as Dustin Trumbley, requested that Premier Scott Moe visit Denare Beach, believing firsthand experience of the devastation was necessary for him to grasp what they endured. Moe eventually made a brief visit in September.
Trumbley and a few other residents who lost their homes spent about an hour conversing with Moe, urging him for additional fire mitigation resources to better prepare communities for future wildfires.
“I sincerely hope the conversation we had resonated with him because I cannot endure this experience again,” Trumbley remarked. “It has been challenging for me to even return here. But it will once again be home.”
Dustin Trumbley and Joanne Churchill had planned to wed this summer until the wildfire destroyed their Denare Beach home. Trumbley advocated for more firefighting resources during Premier Scott Moe’s visit to Denare Beach last month. (Jeremy Warren/CBC)
Trumbley and his fiancée Joanne Churchill had intended to marry at their Denare Beach home this summer. While their house is being rebuilt, they have postponed the wedding until they feel the community is ready to celebrate.
“As more structures are erected and cleanup progresses, we will become stronger and more closely bonded,” Trumbley stated. “That’s already underway, and it’s wonderful. Many joyful moments await us in the future.”