More Sask. fire evacuees return home

There are still 9,724 evacuees receiving social assistance, including 954 in Regina, 3,327 in Saskatoon, 4,389 in Prince Albert, 256 in North Battleford and 798 in Cold Lake.

People will be able to travel with police convoy through La Ronge north and southbound between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. There still is no access to La Ronge.

Special weather statement, severe thunderstorm alert

A slow-moving low pressure system anchoring itself over Alberta will move into Saskatchewan early Friday morning.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Thursday morning for the approaching rain.

Click here for up-to-date weather information.

Rain is expected to hit Ile à la Crosse, Buffalo Narrows, Beauval, La Ronge, Prince Albert National Park, and Narrow Hills Provincial Park areas.

The provincial government believes the rain will be a big help to firefighters who are moving from defensive to offensive fighting. Fire crews will be moving resources around the fires’ perimeter, extinguishing and fully containing the flames so they don’t spread.

“(It will be) a major turning point from where we have been,” Daryl Jessop with wildfire management said.

Wildfires still burn

As of Thursday morning, there are 127 active fires burning in the province. Three have been put out but another four started since Wednesday.

Another six structures are confirmed burned due to the current fires. The fire near Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Stanley Mission, which is Saskatchewan’s oldest standing building, is still considered a threat. The fire has not come any closer to the building.

RCMP and conservation officers have been escorting people in both directions on Highway 102. This will stop if the smoke becomes heavier or the fire gets closer.

Highway 165 and Highway 912 are still closed.

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by CKOM Staff

More Sask. fire evacuees return home

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