A huge, fast-moving forest fire was bearing down on two remote communities in northern Saskatchewan, forcing more than 200 people to flee their homes.

RCMP Sgt. Carole Raymond said as of 6 p.m. local time on Sunday, the fire was less than three kilometres from Stony Rapids and Stony Lake.

Prisoners from the local RCMP detachment and most of the elderly and those with health problems have been flown out, she said.

Raymond said there was still about 150 people that still had to leave the communities on Sunday night.

RCMP started going door-to-door about 1:30 p.m. local time to tell residents to gather their pets and belongings when the fire was about six kilometres east of town.

Police were asking people to voluntarily leave and drive to Black Lake, about 90 minutes southeast.

Judy Orthner, director of communications for the Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing, said 200 people were being flown to Prince Albert and will be housed at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology campus.

"It's a large campus and there will be dormitory space there because fortunately all the students are home for summer vacation," Orthner said.

She said there will be medical assessments done on people and they will be transported to medical facilities if necessary.