Manitoba's Raging Wildfires

A wildfire burns near Sherridon on May 27. Several out-control blazes have forced the evacuation of thousands of people in northern Manitoba this week. (Government of Manitoba)

"We could see [the fire] very well throughout the night. The night before, the wind was in our favour ... but then we were told that the wind was going to change on Wednesday, and it did."

"We could see [the fire] perfectly. Red [skies] and lots of black smoke."

"Some of the residents, like my kids, live right off the perimeter, which is only one-and-a-half kilometres from the fire."

"[First responders] were going door to door, telling them to get out."

Rob Burroughs, resident of Flin Flon, Manitoba

 

"Pray for Flin Flon, pray for Pimicikamak, pray for Mathias Colomb, pray for Cross Lake, pray for everybody in Manitoba who's out of their homes right now."

"As we head into the weekend, pray for rain. We haven't seen rain in the forecast yet. That could really help — sustained rainfall, in particular."

"But in the absence of that, the past few days have been very challenging, and that may continue."

"We cannot thank other jurisdictions enough, [other provinces and territories — now also being bolstered by 100 more firefighters and 25 logistics managers from the U.S]."

"It really does just underline how serious this situation is." 

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew

 

"I hear … there's choppers now, that smoke has engulfed the airport." 

"We're getting desperate now. It's getting rougher. We're going to be heading for the lake … shortly if nothing turns out, if nothing puts the flame out."

Chief Gordie Bear, Pukatawagan Cree Nation 

Evacuees from Pukatawagan Cree Nation arrive at the Brandon Municipal Airport Thursday night. Thousands of residents were stranded in Pukatawagan, also known as Mathias Colomb, after the nearby fire shut down its airport at around 6:30 p.m. CT, the First Nation's chief said. (Chelsea Kemp/CBC)

 

Cars lined bumper to bumper with Flin Flon residents evacuating to Winnipeg for shelter from the wildfires threatening their homes were in for a long drive. From the highway, the frightening sight of the wildfires accompanied their journey as Winnipeg awaited the thousands of evacuees during Manitoba's province-wide state of emergency.

 

Flin Flon residents were informed they had to leave their homes and go south with their essentials, by Wednesday night. Even before the evacuation orders were disseminated, hospital patients had been sent out of the city where fires have forced 17,000 residents from their homes in remote communities and First Nations. Some 6,000 people were dispatched from Flin Flon alone. 

 

Advance emergency preparations had been made to house evacuees at a Winnipeg arena while others would be housed at larger facilities like recreation centres and soccer fields. According to Manitoba's premier, this is the province's largest exodus of this nature in living memory. The military has been called upon to assist evacuation flights to Winnipeg.  

 

A fire is currently closing in on the city boundaries of Flin Flon, a community of some 5,000 people  Government of Manitoba Handout

 

Nearby Creighton, Saskatchewan was involved in the Flin Flon fire on Monday when it crossed the boundary, then exploded in volume as crews struggled to contain it Tuesday. A drone in nearby flight kept water bombers grounded at a critical time in attempting to manage the runaway fire. Upward of 1,200 residents were informed they had to leave the town. Wildfire officials informed Creighton Mayor Bruce Fidler that flames could move in by Thursday, cutting off road access.

 

"We declared a state of emergency and put out a mandatory evacuation so that we can get as many people out of the area as possible, to be safe and before the roads become impassable", explained the Creighton mayor. Wildfires have forced thousands of residents from Manitoba to Alberta from their homes in the heated summer atmosphere prevailing. Advancing wildfires forced evacuation of residents from the town of Lynn Lake northwest of Winnipeg.

 

According to the Wednesday count, 22 active wildfires were ablaze in Manitoba where 102 fires this year have marked the province's growing vulnerability to more extreme weather conditions where the 20-year annual average has been 77. Firefighters from New Brunswick, Alberta, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island were relocated to give assistance in Manitoba. Three First Nations in northern Saskatchewan declared a joint state of emergency where thousands have been forced from their communities amidst escalating wildfires. 

 

Smoke rises from wildfires in Manitoba, Canada   Copernicus Sentinel-2/Reuters

 

They report that there are "critical shortages" of firefighting resources, personnel and air support, a joint statement by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and Montreal Cree Nation and Montreal Lake Cree Nation advised. 1,300 residents of Swan Hills, north-central Alberta, were ordered on Monday to leave ahead of an advancing fire whipped by raging winds.  

 

Premier Wab Kinew updates on wildfires.

"Everyone who is working on your behalf is working together, and ... we are making important progress to move Manitobans to safety, to push back the wildfires and to ensure that people will be able to return to their homes and the lives that we're so proud of here in this province."

"I think the most important thing for Manitobans to understand is that we need to be calm. The situation can be very concerning, can be very emotional."

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew

 

(Photo Credit: Facebook.com/lacdubonnetemergencymanagement)