Saskatchewan lifts more fire evacuation orders
Last Updated: Monday, July 10, 2006 | 5:22 PM ET
CBC News
Residents of two more northern Saskatchewan communities can return home because rain has dampened the forest fire threat, a government official says.
Judy Orthner, communications director for Saskatchewan Corrections and Public Safety, said it is safe for people from English Bay and Nemeiben Lake to return.
About 2,000 residents headed home to five northern communities on the weekend after conditions improved.
Evacuation orders for Grandmother's Bay, Stanley Mission, Sucker River, Missinipe and Wadin Bay were lifted on Saturday.
Flora Dick, a resident of Stanley Mission, said she was staying in La Ronge when she was told she could go home.
"Excited! I said 'woo hoo! We're going home.' We left right away and went to where we were staying and threw everything in our bags," she said.
Orthner said forest fires in northern Saskatchewan remain a concern, but the danger to the province overall was rated Monday as moderate. It was extreme last week.
However, the forecast for the area is calling for higher temperatures and stronger winds.
"I think even though the rain and humidity have helped fire suppression activities, the potential for hotter weather later in the week continues to keep the situation serious," she said.
Smoke from forest fires has lifted from the town of La Ronge and the village of Beauval.
Heavy smoke prompted officials last week to urge people at risk — the elderly, those with respiratory problems and mothers with newborns — to head south.
Forest fires closed a few highways last week, but all roads were open as of Monday. Firefighting efforts were continuing near and north of La Ronge, and the public was advised to be cautious when driving in the area.
Aircraft used to contain the fires have been sent back to Ontario, Quebec and the Northwest Territories.
Orthner said Saskatchewan has 105 forest fires, 19 of which were deemed Monday as out of control.
