Officials with the Saskatchewan government provided another update today on the current wildfire situation in the province.
Since the evacuation notice was given for La Ronge, Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, 1136 people were registered at the JRMCC hall and transported by bus to Prince Albert.
Of those, 500 are now on their way to an evacuation centre in Cold Lake, Alberta.
The province’s Commissioner of Emergency Management Duane McKay says a call was put out to municipal services across the province for assistance.
Crews from Prince Albert, the R-M of Buckland, Saskatoon, Prince Albert National Park, Warman, Humbolt, Muskoday First Nation all sent personnel or equipment to La Ronge.
Thirty-five other fire departments are on standby and ready to join the effort if needed.
McKays says a request has also been submitted to the federal government and the military is preparing units to send to northern Saskatchewan and could begin arriving within 12 to 24 hours.
Up to 1000 military personnel are expected in self-contained units which will assist existing fire crews.
As of today, about 50 communities are under a total or partial evacuation because of smoke and fire.
So far this year about 300,00 hectares have been affected by fires in the north compared to the yearly average of 30,000.
To the west, communities of Hall Lake, Sikachu and Clam Lake, and Pinehouse remain evacuated because of other fires in those areas.
Officials are also working fires very near Wadin Bay, Sucker River and Nemeiben to the north.
Further south fires are still being worked in the Weyakwin, Ramsey Bay and Montreal Lake Cree Nation area.
Highway 102 north of La Ronge is closed to all traffic.
Evacuees who have driven south who would like to register with the Red Cross or need information on family members can call the Red Cross at 1-888-953-3463.
They are also asked to register at the Margo Fournier Centre (north of Northgate Mall) in Prince Albert.