Dustin Trumbley watched as the fire that destroyed the northern community of Denare Beach burned his home down.

He and his fiancée, Joanne Churchill, had evacuated to his family’s home in Swan River, thinking two things: that the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) would come and put sprinklers around the area and that the bay in front of their home would help protect against the fire.

But, he said that didn’t happen.

“The last camera footage was just pure black smoke. And then lights out, and that’s when we just both broke down, and we knew it was over before it even started,” Trumbley said.

When it was finally time to return to Denare Beach, Trumbley thought he was prepared to see the devastation.

Instead, it brought him to his knees.

“I’m not a crier or nothing like that, but

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