Provincial officials say several wildfire evacuees from Wollaston Lake were arrested after fights broke out at a temporary shelter in Saskatoon.
Saskatoon police have not provided any details on how many people were arrested at the Henk Ruys Soccer Centre on Thursday night.
There are reports that some evacuees were charged with public intoxication and causing a disturbance.
Emergency Social Services manager Norm Vetter says the province is beefing up security at the shelter following the arrests. He says such incidents are not uncommon after a large-scale evacuation.
"This is not an easy process for (evacuees)," Vetter said.
"Many of them have been sitting in hangars and airports for, sometimes, up to 10 or 12 hours before they got transferred out. Everybody's tired and it is a strain on local people."
Richard Kent with Prince Albert Grand Council fire services says many of the 1,200 evacuees from the remote northern community are frustrated because they don't speak English and have been unable to get information from staff at the crowded shelters.
"They all want answers," Kent said.
"More important than security, we need people who can communicate with the evacuees in their own language and give them the information that they need so they don't feel the level of frustration that they have right now."
Kent says Prince Albert Grand Council is sending staff who speak aboriginal languages to the shelters to field questions from evacuees.
Officials say the 4,400-hectare wildfire burning near the edge of Wollaston Lake still isn't under control. It isn't known when evacuees will be allowed to return to their homes.
