Rain in the forecast in the coming days will assist in the battle against wildfires in northwest Saskatchewan.

Steve Roberts with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) says a decision will be made in the next day or two on whether to maintain with the current fire ban.

There remains a substantial number of people on the fire line. In addition to trained fire crews from Mexico, Australia and other parts of Canada, there are 190 Type Three local firefighters and 300 Armed Forces personnel who have been in Saskatchewan for two weeks. An SPSA request to have the Armed Forces remain for another week has been granted.

About 3,000 residents from 13 communities are still away from home, including several hundred who were transported from La Loche to Regina over the August long weekend. The fire near La Loche is 40 per cent contained and, while mitigation efforts are going well, residents can expect to be out of their homes until the western side of the fire is contained.

Saskatchewan is reporting 81 active wildfires, including 14 that are not contained