Prairie wildfires developed on two fronts Friday as 1,000 more Manitoba residents were forced to flee their homes, while Saskatchewan’s RCMP laid charges against alleged fire-starters.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe told a news conference that two people have been charged with setting wildfires.

He said one of them was charged in relation to a fire around La Ronge, which has forced 7,000 people to flee their homes.

“The RCMP have informed us that they have now charged a couple of individuals,” Moe said.

In a news release issued Friday afternoon, the RCMP said that while it understands there is “public interest in seeing if any wildfires can be fully or partially attributed to criminal acts,” looking into the recent reports of arson will take time.

Many officers are “actively engaged

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