Plans to return home fluid for many wildfire evacuees

Thousands of evacuees from communities affected by wildfires in Saskatchewan's north are waiting for word on plans that are in the works for their return home.

The situation is fluid as some communities were partially evacuated, for health reasons, while others were under voluntary evacuations and still others were under evacuation orders.

Officially, provincial authorities have not formally lifted any evacuation orders currently in place.

As of Tuesday, nearly 50 communities are under full or partial evacuation due to wildfire threat or smoke.

A Red Cross official said their organization is working closely with the province and will only organize return transport once officials have given the green light.

Government officials have compiled a list of communities that will likely be cleared soon, as the fire threat has diminished and sufficient services are being put in place.

Some communities are actively preparing for thereturn of residents.

Edward Henderson, chief of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation,said Tuesday that if all continues to go well in that part of the province, residents can expect to return home Thursday afternoon. There have been posters alerting people about the possibility.

"We got some good news yesterday," Henderson said. "We met with fire management and we're looking at Thursday taking our members back to our community. There are still a lot of hot spots, but they figure they should have them out by late Wednesday afternoon."

Henderson added the situation could yet change.

"Hopefully we'll meet our goal for Thursday," he said.

Meanwhile, 54 people have returned to Deschambault, once of several northern Saskatchewan communities that had to contend with dense smoke.

The community was under a partial evacuation order, which meant the sick and elderly were taken out because of smoke. The community made the decision on its own that health threats had passed and it organized a bus to return 54 people.

As well, people from the hamlet of Weyakwin, were making plans to return home.

On Tuesday morning, provincial officials said they have just under 11,000 people registered as evacuees, in the following communities:

• North Battleford (320).
• Prince Albert (4,706).
• Saskatoon (3,320).
• Regina (1,254).
• Cold Lake (798).

They noted that many people, also out of their home communities, are staying with friends or familyand are mobile.

Provincial officials noted Tuesday that they have not set a date for the return of people who left Air Ronge, La Ronge or Lac La Ronge Indian Band.