PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. 鈥� Officials were organizing a convoy Saturday to allow people to return to communities unaffected by Saskatchewan鈥檚 wildfires, but there was no such luck for thousands of evacuees still biding their time in emergency shelters.
Several northeastern communities have not been threatened by the fires eating through extensive areas of the province鈥檚 forests, but they were cut off when the highway north of La Ronge was closed due to the fire risk.
The highway was to be opened temporarily so that emergency officials could escort up to 150 people through the fire zone and back to their homes. The road was not being opened to commercial vehicles or general traffic.
Highways spokesman Joel Cherry stressed that people set to return to the communities of Missinipe, Otter Rapids, Brabant, Southend and the Athabasca Basin have never been under an evacuation order.
鈥淲e are only allowing permanent residents back to their communities,鈥� Cherry said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not allowing people to return to communities where evacuation orders are still in effect.鈥�
The convoy was also providing a chance to haul much-needed food and fuel to the communities trapped behind fire lines.
There was no such news for the 13,000 evacuees facing increasing boredom and frustration as they wait to return home.
鈥淣o new evacuees are going home,鈥� said Karri Kampf of emergency services. 鈥淣ot today.鈥�
There was a bit of good news: One major fire within two kilometres of the village of Pinehouse, where 900 people usually live, had not come any closer.
There were more than 120 fires burning in the province, although the situation was stable, said Steve Roberts of the wildfire management branch.
Weather conditions remain the biggest enemy, he said. It was expected to be hot and dry again today, with a chance of lightning. Heavy smoke was also expected to be an issue.
Fire-fighting reinforcements were still being added and 23 U.S. fire specialists arrived to help manage crews and equipment.
