City opens evacuee centre after thousands flee wildfires amid provincial state of emergency

Winnipeg Free Press

29-05-2025

The City of Winnipeg has opened its doors to wildfire evacuees after thousands were forced to flee northern Manitoba Wednesday evening as uncontrolled fires ravaged the region — prompting the province to declare a state of emergency.
'We know many families are arriving with little more than the clothes on their backs,' Mayor Scott Gillingham said in a news release Thursday morning
'Winnipeg will do what we've always done in times of crisis: open our doors and stand together.'
The city established a reception centre at Billy Mosienko Arena, which opened at 9 p.m. Wednesday. People who do not have a place to stay are asked to head to the Keewatin Street facility, which is being staffed by provincial emergency social services and the Canadian Red Cross, the news release said.
Evacuees travelling toward Winnipeg are encouraged to shelter with friends and family first, if possible, the city said.
Colin Fast, director of communications for the mayor's office, confirmed Century and Eric Coy arenas have also been made available to support evacuees. He said the city is looking into other facilities as well.
The city has activated an emergency operations centre to co-ordinate efforts across various departments, and to ensure the necessary facilities and services are available to evacuees, the news release said.
'City officials remain in close contact with provincial emergency management teams and the Canadian Red Cross to assess shelter requirements, co-ordinate logistics and deliver essential services,' it said.
The mayor said it is now Winnipeg's job to ensure evacuees feel 'safe, supported and welcomed.'
Premier Wab Kinew announced a Manitoba-wide state of emergency around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday due to severe fire conditions and out-of-control blazes in the north, east and western parts of the province.
More than 17,000 residents of northern communities scrambled to escape advancing wildfires, as the City of Flin Flon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation and Mathias Colomb First Nation issued mandatory evacuation orders. All residents and visitors were told to get out before midnight.
The majority of the evacuees are expected to head to Winnipeg.
'This is the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most people's living memory,' the premier said.
It is believed to be the largest mass evacuation since 1997, when about 25,000 people were forced to flee the Red River Valley during the Flood of the Century.
The decision to make the declaration under the Emergency Measures Act was based on the recommendation of wildfire and emergency management officials. The state of emergency, which ensures federal, provincial and local resources can be delivered in a co-ordinated response, is in effect for 30 days and may be extended.
Canadian Armed Forces staff will help with the evacuation of northerners, most of whom are expected to come to Winnipeg.
Paige Bada, who fled from Flin Flon with her parents, described how throngs of traffic snaked along Highway 10 as they made their escape.
'(I've) been trying to get ahold of friends along the drive to The Pas, see if they're OK. Some have made it on the road, some I haven't heard from and others I couldn't reach without having much service,' she said in a message to the Free Press.
Bada and her family arrived in Minnedosa around 2 a.m. Thursday to stay with family.
Manitoba has had the highest fire activity in Canada in 2025, said Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister of the wildfire service.
About 200,000 hectares of land has burned this year — nearly triple the five-year average for an entire year.
More to come.
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Tyler SearleReporter
Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press's city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic's creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler.
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