The Canadian Red Cross announced 1,500 more evacuees from northern communities will come to Winnipeg as wildfires continue to burn in the region. 

Canadian Red Cross Vice-President for Manitoba and Nunavut, Shawn Feely says community leaders decided to evacuate people from Garden Hill First Nation. This comes after 3,200 people were evacuated from Wasagamack First Nation earlier this week.

Feely says hotel rooms are starting to open up in Winnipeg and the surrounding area and priority for hotel rooms will be given to the elderly and those with health concerns. 

Feely says evacuees are still stressed out but they are getting as comfortable as they can. 

"They're settling in now, they're visiting with each other and they're more relaxed," said Feely. "But a shelter is not a comfortable place by any means." 

900 of the 1,500 new evacuees are expected to arrive in Winnipeg today, according to Feely. The remaining 600 will stay in different communities and are expected to arrive tomorrow. 

The Canadian Red Cross set up two shelters in the city earlier this week. One with 1,000 cots at the Winnipeg Convention Centre and another with 900 cots at the Winnipeg Soccer North Indoor Complex. 

Feely said as of right now they have no plans on opening another shelter because many of the evacuees are staying with friends and family which is freeing up quite a bit of space.

There is now approximately 4,700 people evacuated from Garden Hill, Wasagamack and St. Theresa Point First Nation due to a large wildfire. That is in addition approximately 830 from Poplar River First Nation who are staying in Winnipeg and Brandon. 

In its latest fire bulletin, the province of Manitoba said southern winds and rain were expected to aid in firefighting efforts in these communities over the weekend. 

Fire crews from Manitoba, Minnesota and Northwest Territories continues to battle the blazes near Poplar River and Fox Lake First Nation as well. 

Feely says there is no timeline for when the evacuees might be able to return home. He says they are preparing for them to stay away from home for two week and says the Canadian Red Cross is prepared if they have to extend that timeline.