By battlefordsNOW Staff

Lakeland firefighters help trapped campers after storm strikes Murray Point

Jul 7, 2018 | 9:16 AM

A number of people were trapped in their campers after a powerful storm blew through the Lakeland region Friday night.

According to the Lakeland & District Fire Department, firefighters were called to a campground at Murray Point after a fallen tree trapped a person inside a camper. Upon arrival, the firefighters were notified of six more people trapped by the storm.

“Crews arrived, and had all campground guests accounted for, and extracted in 40 minutes,” the fire department said in a social media post Saturday morning. “There are hundreds of trees down and the damage is significant.”

According to the fire department, 22 firefighters responded to the campground after the storm, along with conservation officers, RCMP, park staff, and paramedics.

One camper at Murray Point sent a Tweet early this morning describing the scary experience.

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“My camper is destroyed,” Terri Bjarnason wrote. “Thankfully I was able to crawl out with minor scratches and kids and hubby were at the back of the trailer that didn’t get hit.”

Lakeland Reeve Cheryl Bauer Hyde told paNOW there was no power at Emma and Christopher Lakes, although there was power in the village itself.

She said the storm caused widespread tree damage with trees falling across roads and lanes and on homes.

“The Lakeland Fire crew has been out since 1 or 2 a.m. clearing the roads,” she said. “Some power lines have broken off and there are trees up against power lines so the crews have not been able to move those.”

The reeve said she understands there were only minor injuries reported in the Great Blue Heron campground at Murray Point. Parkland Ambulance Spokesperson Lyle Karasiuk confirmed no injuries were reported to paramedics, though staff members remained on call throughout the night.

SaskPower reported lines, poles, and trees down throughout the Lakeland region, with crews working to repair the damaged infrastructure. The power company advised residents to stay at least 10 metres away from any downed lines and report any damage they spot.

Environment Canada Meteorologist David Baggaley said large hail was reported during the storm.

“Through the evening [Friday] we did get reports of quarter-sized hail that later changed to hen-egg-sized hail in the Neilburg area,” he said.

Other campgrounds were also hit by the storm. Shelly Rowland shared a Facebook video detailing the damage at the Morin Lake Regional Park camground.

Warning: there is some language viewers may find offensive.

–With files from 650 CKOM.

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @PrinceAlbertNOW