Provincial officials in northern Saskatchewan say another 350 people were forced out of their homes overnight and Saturday, fleeing from forest fires burning across the province.
But officials also reported some good news. They said about 800 evacuees who had earlier fled the Deschambault Lake area will be allowed to return home.
"As soon as we get transportation organized, we will get people home," Trish Alcorn, director of communications with Saskatchewan social services, told CTV.ca on Saturday.
A nearby blaze is still within one kilometre of the town, but fire crews have put in protection lines to safeguard local residences.
In total, 2,500 people left their homes over the past few days as fires threatened the communities of Deschambault, Sandy Bay, Black Lake, Stony Rapids, Uranium City, and Pelican Narrows.
Jeanette Krayetski, a spokesperson for the provincial forest fire program, told CTV.ca that rain, which began falling overnight and continued throughout Saturday morning, appears to be helping firefighters in the region.
"They're large fires, so we'll have to see what effect it will have on them," Krayetski said.
She said rain is expected throughout the province for much of Saturday, but will give way to sunshine and windy conditions on Sunday.
While the precipitation is helping, she said it may also cause problems for residents living near the fires.
"It's like a campfire ... If you put some water on it, there will be lots of smoke."
Excess smoke may force more evacuations, officials said. There were about 88 forest fires burning across Saskatchewan on Saturday, with 36 new blazes started in just the past day by lightening strikes.
The fires have so far destroyed nearly 3,000 square kilometres.
Fire crews have bused evacuees to Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
Residents are being put up in hotels, dormitory rooms at a college and the University of Saskatchewan, and with family and friends.
