More towns evacuated as fires spread across Western Canada

More people are packing up their belongings and leaving their homes as forest fires continue to sweep through Western Canada on Thursday.

Wildfires have encroached on communitiesin Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, forcing evacuations en masse.

On Thursday, officials in Manitoba said crews had contained the province's fires, while residents in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., were allowed to return home as cool, wet weather eased the flames in the region.

Weather dampens Alberta fires

Rain began to fall Thursday afternoon, easing some of Alberta's 169 blazes.

Thirty-eight of the fireshave been categorizedout of control, 53 are being held and the restareunder control.

About 150 people who were forced to fleethe town of Nordegg two days earliercontinue to wait to return home.

Dozens of people in two campgrounds in the area were also forced to leave.

People with respiratory problems in Edmonton have been advised to stay indoors assmoke from the forest fires has travelled south, compromising the air quality.

2nd firefighterdiesin crash

Albertasuffered its second fire-crew death on Wednesday whena helicopter pilot crashed while fighting fires in the north.

The name of the 36-year-old pilot from Niagara Falls, Ont.,who was flying alone near Wabasca, northeast of Slave Lake, has not yet been released.

"The helicopter was using a bucket slung underneath to pick up water from a lake and then deposit it on a fire," said John Lee of the Transportation Safety Board.

"It was during those activities that the aircraft collided with the ground, and the pilot who was the sole occupant was fatally injured."

Another helicopter crashed Monday while battling a fire in Grande Prairie, Alta., killing one passenger.

Weather worsens conditions in Manitoba

Firefighters in Manitoba Thursday found no relief in the forecasts forhot, dry weather with lightning strikes.

About 96 fires burned across the province Wednesday,13 of themout of control.However, officials said the overall wildfire situation in the province was under control.

Tom Mirius,head of Manitoba Conservation's fire program, said he waskeeping a close eye on the dry forests.

"Because of the hot weather we're having and the low relative humidities and the possibility of some thunderstorms, that can give us some starts," Mirius said.

Because the fires have largely been containedin northern regions, there has beenno damage to property or communities.

Firefighter shortage in Saskatchewan

With 121 fires sweeping Saskatchewan, the province has been struggling to recruit more firefighters. It already has 900 people in itsfire crew but wants to hire 600 more.

As towns were being evacuated, the province asked young residents to stay behind. Officials said the youths would be offeredfive days of training before they were sent out to battle the fires.

Because of the labour shortage, the province wasdeciding to put out somefires and allow othersto burn out.

Approximately110 people living inthe northwestern community of Beauvalleft their homes Wednesday evening and Thursday morning because of heavy smoke.

About 2,000 people have fled the communities ofEnglish Bay, Wadin Bay, Sucker River, Stanley Mission, Grandmother's Bay and Nemeiben Lake.

Most of the displaced residents are staying in Saskatoon while others have left the province to stay with family in Alberta and Manitoba.

Members of the public are asked not to travel north of the community of La Ronge.

"Those attempting to travel north of La Ronge will be turned back," said Colin King, spokesman for Saskatchewan's Emergency Organization.

"People living or staying in the Churchill River Region north of La Ronge, including the communities and resort areas of Nemeiben Lake, English Bay, Wadin Bay, Grandmother's Bay, Sucker River, Stanley Mission, and Missinipe are asked to remain where you are until further advised," he said Thursday.

King advised people to listen to radio stations and read community notices for updates.

Residents returnto Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

About 3,500 people who live in Tumbler Ridge in northeastern B.C. returned home on Wednesday afternoon as rain and cool weather eased the fires encroaching upon the town.

The region, which is 160 kilometres northeast of Prince George, was evacuated two days earlier.

The original evacuation order was downgraded to an evacuation alert, meaning residents could still be forced out on short notice.

Officials said the Hourglass Creek fire, whichhad been threatening the community most, was under control, with the closest flames eight kilometres away.

But two massive wildfires forced another 600 residents from their homes in remote communities in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region following an evacuation order issued on Wednesday morning.

Hundreds more are on evacuation alert.

Fire officials said both fires had doubled in size Tuesday night and showed no signs of slowing.

Ontario firefighters pitch in

Twenty fire-ranger crews left Ontario on Thursday to help fight fires in B.C.

Ontario has 68 fire crews battling fires outside the province.

The provincehas been fortunate so far this summer,with few active fires.