Wasagamack First Nation evacuation ends as people prepare to return

Community members from a Manitoba First Nation who were forced from their homes by a wildfirewill start to return to their community on Saturday.

• In pictures: Manitoba First Nation wildfire evacuations

The leadersof Wasagamack First Nation have decided it's time for evacuees to return home from Brandon and Winnipeg, where they've been staying, a Friday news release from the Red Cross said.

More than 1,300 evacuees have been away from their homes for more than two weeks.

Ateam of 60 people went to Wasagamackon Monday to prepare for the return, the news release said.

People from three Manitoba First Nations were forced from their communities on Aug. 29.

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The entire community of Wasagamackhad to be evacuated, with more than 2,000 people fleeingthe flames at night in small boats, travelling acrossIsland Lake to St. Theresa Point First Nation.

St. Theresa Point and nearby Garden Hill were also evacuated because of the fire. St. Theresa Point residents went home earlier this week, andmore than 2,700 evacuees from Garden Hill also have started to return home.

The Red Cross said it expects the return effort to finish Tuesday.

Wasagamack is about 470 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.