Many of the hundreds of northern Saskatchewan residents forced to leave their communities because of wildfires are returning home.
Evacuation orders have been lifted for La Ronge, Air Ronge, Sucker River, Hall Lake, Stanley Mission and Brabant Lake, according to Chief Tammy Cook-Searson of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.
Only two communities — Sikichew Lake and Clam Lake Bridge — are still under an evacuation notice.
Cook-Searson said most of the residents allowed to return home are being bused back to their communities. They’ve been staying in Saskatoon and Regina.
Dozens of wildfires are still active, but according to Cook-Searson, flames have not been a threat to any Lac La Ronge Indian Band communities since Wednesday. The evacuation orders remained in place due to thick smoke and air quality concerns.
The Lac La Ronge chief said she will meet with Wildfire Management on Friday to discuss the Sikichew Lake and Clam Lake Bridge evacuations. Fire suppression crews are still working in the area.
An aerial video shot by Cook-Searson this week showed a charred forest where flames came just metres away from destroying dozens of Sikichew Lake homes.
“Potentially we could have lost this whole community if not for the incredible work of the firefighters and the Wild Fire Management Team,” the video’s description reads on YouTube.
Those flames were part of the Egg fire — located in the Egg and Besnard lakes area west of La Ronge. The fire has so far charred over 20,000 hectares. Another, the David fire, has burned over 45,000 hectares in both Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Over 400 people were working Wednesday to contain the fires. Twenty helicopters and 27 pieces of heavy equipment were being used.
Nearly 40 fires are still active. Five are not yet contained.
