There has been considerable improvement in the fire situation in Saskatchewan as of the week’s end.
Colin King, director of operations emergency management at Gov. Relations, said the vast majority of people who had been evacuated due to the smoke situation have been returned to their homes.
The remainder were expected to return home later Friday. The evacuations had involved people in various communities including the ones around La Ronge, including Lac La Ronge, Air Ronge and Lac La Ronge Indian Band. The main risk to residents was smoke inhalation.
Karri Kempf, manager information services with Social Services, said 81 remaining residents were returning home, with two of them to be transferred to the Ministry of Health. As well, they were ceasing their shelter operations in Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
There had been upwards of 1,000 people evacuated at the height of the fires.
Officials also reported further relief from the fires due to more precipitation.
Steve Roberts, executive director of wildfire management with the Ministry of Environment, said most of the province received precipitation overnight Thursday with the exception of the far south. Most reported more than four millimeters of rain and many over 12 mm, and the forecast showed most locations had a high probability of precipitation.
None of the large fires grew in size -- in fact, most of them are no longer posing smoke or direct fire threats any longer, Roberts said.
As for damage, two homes and 14 cabins had been destroyed by the wildfires. One home was in Sikachu while the other was a remote location impacted by the Sucker fire.
As of Friday, there were 44 active fires for a total 365 to date.
