Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall experiences fire zone destruction

As more than 100 forest fires continue to burn,Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall wasin the northtodayseeing how people in the region are getting by.

Wall metwithcommunity leaders and firefighting crews at the provincial fire baseinWeyakwinand La Ronge.

"Thank you very, very much for what you're doing," Wall said."It's been days and days you've been at it ... some days, like two days ago and probably today, without a lot of air support.So what's happening on the ground is huge."

• Aerial view of forest fires burning in northern Saskatchewan

He was in the region earlier this week, but a planned airplane tour didn't get off the ground due to heavy smoke.

Friday's flying conditions were better, soa helicopter took government officialsaround the fire zonein the afternoon.

"It's been stabilized and I've just been on the line over here and saw how close it came," Wall said.

With107fires burning, thousands of people have been forced from their homes.

Evacuee numbers continue to grow

Aerial view of wildfires burning in northern Saskatchewan

9 years ago

Duration 1:09

Video from helicopter shows the fire zone on July 3.

Just under 5,200 evacueeshave registered with the Red Cross and the provincial government.

More have left their homes on their own and are staying with family or friends.

Fire officials told reporters Friday about half the fires 57 are larger than 100 hectares. Twenty of those threaten communities in the north.

• By the numbers: Saskatchewan forest fires on Friday, July 3

Around 600 firefighters and 200 support people are fighting the blazes.

Some rain is expected Saturday, but on the west side of the province, skies are expected to be clear with warmer temperatures.

At 1 p.m. on Friday, it was 31 C in La Ronge and 28 in La Loche.