Saskatchewan

Province lifts 7 more northern Saskatchewan evacuation orders

Changing wildfire conditions mean more evacuees from Saskatchewan's north are able to return home to their communities.

1 community given full clearance; 6 given partial clearance

An aerial view of burned forest north of Prince Albert, Sask. (Liam Richards/Pool)

Despite an increasing number of wildfires in northern Saskatchewan and at least two blazes that are larger than 80,000 hectares, the provincial government has given evacuees from Montreal Lake 100 per cent clearance to return home to their community as of Thursday, July 16.

In addition to that one community where everyone is being allowed to return, six others have had their evacuation orders partially lifted:

  • La Loche
  • Ramsey Bay
  • Weyakwin
  • Timber Bay
  • Turnor Lake
  • Birch Narrows

Officials with Saskatchewan government relations said those six communities have only had their evacuation orders partially lifted because smoke continues to linger in their respective areas, making breathing difficult for some people.

Officials advised people with respiratory or health problems not to return until evacuation orders have been fully lifted.