Some First Nation members return home after wildfire evacuations in northeastern Manitoba

Some members of a Manitoba First Nation have started to head home after previously evacuating because of smoke billowing from a wildfire in northeastern Manitoba.

The Canadian Red Cross said as of Sunday, 206 communitymembers have returned home to God's Lake First Nation.

The blazeforced five other communities to evacuate, and their residents arestaying in hotels in Winnipeg and Brandon, according to the Red Cross.

Of the people still sheltering in the two cities as of Sunday,578 people are from Wasagamack First Nation, 326 from Manto Sipi Cree Nation, 209 from Marcel Colomb First Nation, 368 fromRed Sucker Lake Anisininew Nation, 216 from St. Theresa Point First Nation and 34 from God's Lake First Nation,the Red Cross said in an email to CBC News.

Last Friday, the wildfireabout 20 kilometres south of God's Lake Narrows wasburning out of control and was just shy of 30,000 hectares in size, the province said in an update.

A provincial spokesperson told CBC News there are currently 66 active fires in Manitoba and a total of 205 for the year to date. That's lower than the average of 297 fires for this date, the spokesperson said.