The rain received in northern parts of Saskatchewan helped with the fire but not enough to allow people to go back to their homes.

Ministry of Environment spokesperson Steve Roberts says there are still 623 wildfires to date with 125 active fires.

Roberts says the rain helped the far north but not enough to help the La Ronge area.

“Unfortunately areas around La Loche to Montreal Lake, north of Montreal Lake up into La Ronge got lower amounts of precipitation, so we’re talking 1 to 3 millimetres,” he says. “It will help us moderate fire behaviour but it is not a significant amount to change the size of these fires or the scope.”

Roberts says two new fires were reported due to lightning strikes.

Meanwhile, Government Relations spokesperson Duane McKay says its still not safe for evacuees in some areas to return home.

He says the rain is encouraging but people have to be patient.

“We would ask the people to check with their local leaders prior to returning either to check on your cabins, private property or to your home communities,” says McKay. “We want to make sure we keep people safe in terms of their own personal safety as well as not interfering with fire operations that maybe going on there’s still aircraft in the air.”