The Canadian Red Cross is sending nearly 800 refrigerators and freezers to two Manitoba communities that were evacuated due to wildfires.

There hasn't been electricity in Pauingassi and Little Grand Rapids First Nations for weeks, and people's appliances will have rotting food inside and won't be fit to use.

Clean-up crews are disposing of the rotten food and appliances.

Residents aren't ready to go home yet, noting power needs to be restored and then the water treatment plants can be reactivated.