Ottawa sending more beds, blankets for Sask. wildfire evacuees

As evacuees from Saskatchewan wildfires continueto stream into emergency shelters, the federal government is sending more supplies.

The government announced Wednesday it has shipped more than 6,500 blankets and4,000beds to evacuee centres in Regina, Prince Albert, La Ronge and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan and High Level and Cold Lake in Alberta.

It's also sending gowns, pillows and towels. The items come out of the national emergency strategic stockpile, a news release from the federal government said.

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Rob Clarke,M.P. forDesneth-Missinippi-ChurchillRiver, said "They've also made the acknowledgement that extra emergency facilities, doctors and nurses will beavailable from Health Canada."

Meanwhile, Prince Albert M.P. RandyHobacksaid Canadian militarytroops will be a big help on the front lines.

"I think the thing we should focus on is they're here to help and they're doing everything they canto help alleviate the pressures of the fires that are creating in the north. I know a lot of the peoplein the evacuation shelters are happy to see them here," Hoback said.

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Saskatchewan's Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Schofield and Canadian Governor General David Johnston toured the evacuee centre at Evraz Place in Regina on Wednesday to meet with evacuees and support workers.

"I've never been so proud to be from Saskatchewan," Schofield said of support workers and volunteers at the evacuation centre.

"What an amazing group of people. We have the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, City of Regina, the Public Library and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Everybodyhas contributed to this effort," she said.

"I'm so impressed. It touches you to see the families and the disruption in their lives," said Johnston.

"I think the solidarity and concern of all Canadians goes out to these families," said the Governor General.

More than 13,000people have been forced to leave their homes in the past three weeks due to forest fires and smoke, with the vast majority from northern Saskatchewan.

The area burned in Saskatchewan so far this season is 745,000 hectares, or 7,450 square kilometres, an area slightly larger than the entire Greater Toronto Area.

As of midday Wednesday, 113 fires were active, seven of which arenew. Year to date, that's 592 fires, double last year's 213 fires.

Steve Roberts of the Environment Ministryreported that fires Tuesday were quiet with "no significant changes to fires of concern," which allowed for good flying weather tocontain small fires and areas of concern.

Roberts noted that the 600 firefighters are on fireline are beingjoined by360 Canadian Military members.

Troops are helping to fight fires in the Weyakwin and La Ronge areas.

Among those 113 active fires, Roberts reported32 are larger than1000 hectares - 10 square kilometres.