Crews in, around, above Snow Lake win weekend battle with wildfire
An update from the town Sunday night stated the fire, which now covers 26,595 hectares, reached the community late Saturday night. The town of roughly 1,100 residents was evacuated for the second time this wildfire season on July 10.
Crews worked through the night Saturday and into Sunday, with substantial air support helping to reinforce fire lines.
'Structure fire departments, wildfire crews, and (helicopter) buckets did a great job throughout the day and into the night protecting the town of Snow Lake and no structures were lost in the community,' an update from the town on Facebook said.
Further north in Thompson, firefighting efforts are concentrated on the eastern flank of a wildfire north of the city, which has grown to 18,365 hectares.
'The Manitoba Wildfire Service reported today that Fire NO061 north of Thompson looks generally good as crews work along the eastern flank where it crossed the Burntwood River,' a Facebook post from the city said Monday. 'That work will continue for two to three days, at which time the focus will switch to the southern flank.'
Thompson, home to 12,542 people, remains under an evacuation watch.
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Meanwhile, an 8,000-hectare wildfire threatening Leaf Rapids has shifted east, crossing Highway 391 near the north end of the town's airport. Fir-protection measures were put in place at the town cemetery to prevent it from burning, according to another Facebook post.
'(Bull)dozers were used to create dozer lines to the north around the airport and protect Churchill River Lodge,' the post read. 'Fire trucks and firefighters continue a 24-hour roving operation around town detecting and putting out hot spots.
'Rain is what is needed most, and the current forecast does not show any for the next few days.'
Residents of the town of about 300 were evacuated last week. Power, which had been knocked out at the firehall, RCMP station, and Co-Op cardlock, was restored over the weekend.
scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca
Scott BilleckReporter
Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade's worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott.
Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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