'Grateful for the rain': Wet weather helps firefighters make progress on Fort Chipewyan fire

Steady rain is helping firefighters in Alberta tackle the 73 wildfires still burning in the province, meaning hundreds of evacuees may soon be heading home.

Steady rain is helping firefighters in Alberta tackle the 73 wildfires still burning in the province, meaning hundreds of evacuees may soon be heading home.

Thanks to the shift in the weather, Alberta Wildfire said crews have made progress on the more than 60,000-hectare Fort Chipewyan fire.

"They're able to get in and take advantage of the low fire activity to put out hot spots and get further and further into the fire perimeter," Josee St-Onge of Alberta Wildfire said Sunday. "It's good news and it means that we're getting closer and closer to controlling that wildfire."

According to the Alberta Wildfire Dashboard, of the wildfire in Alberta Sunday, 19 were out of control, 19 were being held and 35 were under control.

"This type of weather is very welcome in the province, it gives us a chance to really make some progress, do some long-term planning," St-Onge said. "Overall, the wildfire situation in most parts of the province has stabilized."

Despite improving conditions, residents of the area remained under an evacuation order. St-Onge said the decision to re-enter will be up to local authorities.

On Friday, Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation said there is no set date for when residents can return, but plans are in place for when the time comes.