Last of Wollaston Lake evacuees heading home

Officials are expecting all evacuees from the Wollaston Lake area of northern Saskatchewan to be back home by the end of the day.

About 138 people were set to fly home Wednesday, the last of over 1,100 who were returning north following the emergency evacuation of the community one week ago due to a threatening wildfire.

Officials said the first people to leave the community would be the last ones to return. They included the very young or very old and people who may have problems with smoke in the air.

They added that smoke from the fire should not pose a problem to anyone.

Richard Kent, an emergency official with the Prince Albert Grand Council said people who were staying there were very thankful for the temporary shelter.

Steve Roberts, Saskatchewan's head of  wildfire management in the environment ministry said crews were still working several fires in the north, but no communities were in danger.

He noted an exceptionally large fire in Saskatchewan's northwest had a total outside perimeter of 17,500 hectares. It was about 20 kilometres away from any community or commercial enterprise.