Wildfires threaten Leaf Rapids
The closest fire, in the Turnbull Lake area, was about three kilometres southwest of the evacuated community. The blaze was about 9,150 hectares.
Government officials said at a news conference Monday afternoon that conditions near Leaf Rapids, Garden Hill First Nation, Snow Lake, the Laurie River generating station and the Kettle generating station are being closely monitored.
SHIRLEY DYSART PHOTO
A photo of the smoke from a wildfire near Leaf Rapids on July 7. Government officials said at a news conference Monday afternoon that conditions near Leaf Rapids is being closely monitored.
The Manitoba Wildfire Service reported 120 active fires Monday, including 20 that were out of control. There have been 331 wildfires so far this year. The 20-year average for this date is 243.
Officials said at the news conference that the wildfire risk remains high to very high in eastern and northern areas, with some areas of extreme danger. The risk is low in western and central Manitoba.
'We had hot, dry conditions over the weekend and saw increased fire behaviour on nearly all fires,' Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister of the Manitoba Wildfire Service, said at the news conference.
Hayward said progress was made fighting some of the fires this weekend despite very smoky conditions that hampered efforts to fight the blazes from the air.
The province said more than 13,000 Manitoba residents are currently evacuated because of wildfires. Nearly 2,500 Manitoba hotel rooms are being used by evacuees — an increase of 145 since Thursday. Officials said 840 shelter beds are being used.
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Nearly 1.3 million hectares of land has burned as Manitoba grapples with its worst wildfire season in at least 30 years. A provincewide state of emergency — the second of the season — is in effect until Aug. 8.
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