Officials with Saskatchewan Environment say the weather has been helpful today as crews continue to battle several fires in the north.
The fire, located 15 kilometres from Southend and Brabant Lake, is 5,500 hectares in size today and is still listed as not contained.
Showers in the area have been helpful, reducing the temperature and increasing humidity and are expected to continue into Saturday.
Ceanna Valentine of Emergency Social Services says several hundred people from Southend are in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and other locations.
“Today we have 579 individuals registered out of Southend — 278 of those people are at hotels in P.A., 245 are also in P.A. but with friends and family,” she said. “There are 49 people in Saskatoon and seven in La Ronge.”
Valentine says events are being organized to ensure the evacuated residents have something to do while they are away from home.
“Today in Prince Albert, an indoor playground will be brought in for kids and there will be bingo in the evening,” she said.
She adds today in Saskatoon there is a swimming outing and bingo in the evening.
Volunteers are also working to ensure pets left behind in Southend are being cared for.
Another fire burning near the McArthur River uranium mine is now listed at 6,000 hectares.
Officials say fire crews with heavy equipment are working there to protect things like power poles and mine assets.
The fire that has been burning between Montreal Lake and Timber Bay is now listed as contained.
(PHOTO: Pauline Clarke, Facebook)