Thousands more wildfire evacuees in Manitoba and Saskatchewan will start making the trek home in the coming days as officials in the provinces continue to lift evacuation orders.
In Manitoba, the 600 residents of the town of Lynn Lake were given the go ahead to return to the community, 775 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, starting Friday morning.
In a social media post, the town said buses would be arranged for those who need help with transportation.
"An evacuation alert will remain in place," the town said in the statement. "While it is now safe to return, residents must remain prepared to evacuate again with little notice if fire conditions worsen."
Residents were forced out a little more than one month ago by an out-of-control blaze that stands at 71 square kilometres in size. Active fire and hot spots remain close, the town said.
Suppression efforts are ongoing, but there is a continued risk of smoke and falling ash, officials said.
Further south, residents of the city of Flin Flon have been told they can expect to start coming home by the middle of next week as officials prepare to lift their mandatory evacuation order.
Deputy Mayor Alison Dallas-Funk, in a social media post Thursday, said the order is expected to be lifted at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, about one month after the city's 5,100 residents were forced out by a massive wildfire that began days earlier in nearby Creighton, Sask.
She said most critical services and businesses, including power and gas, would be ready to go by Sunday. Barring further fire activity, she said council would meet Monday to officially rescind the order.
"Please be careful, all of the highways are going to be extremely busy," said Dallas-Funk.
She said health services would be available in a limited capacity and added the grocery store won't have much in stock.
Dallas-Funk said the town would work to secure buses to bring people home.
Manitoba's wildfire service has said crews have made progress in combating the 3,700-square-kilometre fire near Flin Flon, but weather has hindered their efforts.
The province has been experiencing one of its worst fire seasons.
At the peak of evacuations, about 21,000 people were out of their homes, putting pressure on the province’s supply of hotel rooms and prompting Premier Wab Kinew's NDP government to encourage tourists to think twice about travelling to Manitoba.
In Saskatchewan, residents of Creighton and Denare Beach near the Manitoba boundary were told they can start returning Sunday.
The town of Creighton, which has 1,200 residents, said on social media those with weekly or daily medical needs should not go back until the hospital is fully open.
"There is a lack of medical services, essential services and motel accommodations, as well as no access to (nearby) Flin Flon until their evacuation is lifted," the town said Friday. "Please ensure to bring a week's supply of groceries and medications."
It said a fire ban, which includes a ban on ATVs, remains in effect.
In Denare Beach, where 218 primary residences burned down, the village said those who have lost their homes must secure accommodations before re-entry.
"All residents should limit access to only their own properties at this time," the village said on social media. "No residents are permitted to enter or touch anyone else's properties."
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency reported 20 active wildfires in the province as of Friday, including three uncontained. It said five communities remain under an evacuation order.
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mike Deal-Pool
