There are still more than 10,000 evacuees displaced due to the fire in northern Saskatchewan, but that number may soon shrink.
The government says some evacuees may soon be returning home.
Government Relations spokesperson Duane McKay says residents from Grandmother’s Bay went home on Sunday.
He says once they can determine the area around La Ronge is safe they will give the order to return home.
“We’re coordinating all of our efforts in terms of identifying communities that may not necessarily be under a direct fire threat. Over the weekend, we started to target a list of communities that might fit that criteria,” says McKay. “Over the next 24 hours, we will be meeting with municipal and First Nations leaders to talk to them to make sure that it is number one, safe — and all services, health services, community services are in place. Once we secure that, then we can announce that to the public that those communities are ready to return.”
McKay has also confirmed a firefighter suffered second-degree burns.
He says a rapid response team member suffered the burns to his arms when steam blasted back onto him.
The firefighter covered his face in time protecting himself.
He is at home recovering.