Crews keep battling deadly, out-of-control wildfires in eastern Manitoba
See more sharing options
Send this page to someone via email
Share this item on Twitter
Share this item via WhatsApp
Share this item on Facebook
Fire crews in Manitoba continue to battle out-of-control wildfires including one in the eastern part of the province which has killed two people.
In the Manitoba legislature on Thursday, opposition Progressive Conservative legislature member Rick Wowchuk named the victims as Richard and Sue Nowell, who lived in the Rural Municipality of Lac Du Bonnet.
The bodies were found on Wednesday.
The wildfire burning in the municipality, a popular cottage area northeast of Winnipeg, was over four-thousand hectares in size as of midnight Friday.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Wildfires in eastern Manitoba have also forced the province to declare a state of emergency in Whiteshell Provincial Park, and gave people until Thursday evening to evacuate.
The Alberta government says it is sending help to Manitoba to battle the wildfires, with two wildland firefighting crews and support staff expected in the coming days.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
Sprinkler system outside Saskatchewan cabin staves off wildfires
James Irvine and Trudy Connor have been calling a cabin north of the town of La Ronge, Sask., home for more than 40 years. With their property in a wildfire hot spot, the pair have taken measures to protect their home, including utilizing a simple, yet effective sprinkler system that uses water from the nearby lake. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We have friends who we've helped out and they've helped us, and they help us by coming here twice a day, fill up our gas tanks and keep our pumps going,' Irvine said. Check out the video above for more details on how they were able to stave off the most recent wildfires burning just feet from their doorstep.
Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
Forecast for heavy rain, snow forces road closures in Waterton Lakes National Park
With a weekend storm expected to bring heavy rain and the possibility of snow to some parts of southern Alberta, Parks Canada has been forced to temporarily close several roads in Waterton Lakes National Park. A rainfall warning, issued by Environment Canada for the area around Waterton, calls for heavy rain to start falling Friday afternoon and continue into the weekend, before tapering off Saturday night. The temperature is also expected to drop, which could cause the rain to turn to snow over higher elevations. Parks Canada said up to 200 mm of precipitation, including up to 10 cm of snow could fall during the storm. View image in full screen Parks Canada warns that up to 200 millimetres of precipitation, including up to 10 centimetres of snow could fall in the area around the Akamina and Red Rock Parkways, on the west side of Wateron Lakes National Park. Global News In anticipation of the storm's arrival, Parks officials have decided to temporarily close the Akamina Parkway and the Red Rock Parkway to vehicle traffic. Story continues below advertisement The two roads are located on the west side of Waterton National Park and are popular scenic drives for tourists. View image in full screen A map from 511Alberta shows the location (in red) of the Akamina and Red Rock Parkways, in Waterton Lakes National Park, that have been closed because of the storm forecast to hit the area this weekend. 511Alberta Parks Canada warns the heavy precipitation could cause slides of rock and debris in areas of steep terrain as it did when the area was hit by a strong storm in 2023. View image in full screen Parks Canada warns the heavy rain and snow forecast for the area around Waterton Lakes National Park could cause slides of rocks and debris, similar to another storm in 2023. Global News Strong winds are also expected, which could also cause tree damage, especially in areas that have been previously damaged by forest fires. Story continues below advertisement If any rescue operations were needed, Parks Canada warns they could be challenging in such inclement weather. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The two roads are scheduled to remain closed until the storm has passed and Parks Canada crews have had time to assess and repair any damage.
Global News
4 hours ago
- Global News
Extreme heat can turn dangerous fast. Who is most vulnerable?
Doctors and health-care experts are warning Canadians to not only look after themselves but also check on others who could be vulnerable as large parts of central Canada face a sweltering heat wave. Global News chief meteorologist Anthony Farnell says a large heat ridge or dome will build over the Ohio Valley in the U.S. and expand into southeastern Canada by the end of the weekend. Temperatures are expected to reach the low to mid-30s C and the humidex could make that feel much higher, with humidex readings potentially into the mid-40s. When heat hits those levels, the body has to work harder to keep itself cool. 'The hypothalamus acts as the thermostat and sends signals to the heart to start beating faster, sends signals to our body to breathe a little faster and that helps the blood flow to the extremities so that we can dissipate heat through radiant heat loss,' said Dr. Samantha Green, a family physician at Unity Health Toronto with expertise in climate change and health. Story continues below advertisement 'It also sends signals so that we can cool down through evaporative cooling through sweating.' What does extreme heat do to your body? Prolonged exposure to heat can impact the human body in a variety of ways. One of the most common is heat exhaustion, which can lead to heat stroke. Heat exhaustion is characterized by headache, dizziness, extreme thirst, heavy sweating, muscle cramps and nausea and vomiting, according to Health Canada, and people are advised to immediately move to a cool place and drink water if experiencing these symptoms. If left untreated, that exhaustion can become heat stroke, which is defined by Johns Hopkins Medicine as the body being overwhelmed by excessive heat. Those suffering from heat stroke often have an internal temperature of 40 C or higher, warm, dry skin, confusion and nausea, and it can lead to worse conditions, including seizures, coma and even death. Story continues below advertisement While people will keep an eye on the temperature, studies show that people should also be aware of the 'wet bulb' temperature — when both humidity and air temperatures are high, it can be harder to shed heat and keep yourself cool. A 2010 study found that a wet-bulb temperature of 35 C that lasts longer than six hours could cause serious health impacts or even death. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy A study in the Journal of Applied Physiology in 2022 found that at 100 per cent humidity, the threshold could be as low as 31 C, while at 38 C, just 60 per cent humidity could be too much for the body. 4:47 Summer can be a dangerous time for our furry friends If you are suffering from heat stroke or you notice someone with similar symptoms, move to a cool place to rest and call 911, as it is a life-threatening medical emergency. Story continues below advertisement 'If you don't feel well from the heat, seek medical attention or call 911. Don't be afraid to ask for help,' said Caroline Metz, managing director of climate resilience and health at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo. Vulnerable populations, such as youth and older adults or those with chronic conditions, may find it more difficult to beat the heat. Who's most at risk? Nemours Children's Health in the U.S. notes that children's bodies are still developing and may sweat at a lower rate than adults and start sweating at a higher temperature, putting them more at risk of heat-related illness. Older adults face higher risks as they may have trouble accessing cool spaces due to mobility or transportation challenges, and those living alone may be more vulnerable as a result, according to B.C. Interior Health. Story continues below advertisement Older adults, as well as other Canadians, may also have chronic underlying health conditions or be taking medication that could interfere with the body's ability to stay cool. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that those with these conditions may be less likely to respond to changes in temperature, and that those with heart disease, mental illness and obesity have a higher risk of heat-related illness. 4:08 Summer heat can be dangerous for seniors 'It's also why people with chronic health conditions are more at risk of developing heat exhaustion, heat stroke, where the body's natural cooling mechanisms break down and the core body temperature exceeds 40 degrees,' Green said. 'That's where we end up with massive inflammation and failure of organs in the body.' People taking chronic medications can also be affected. Green said beta blockers, for example, prevent the heart from beating faster in response to heat and keep the body from naturally being able to cool down. Story continues below advertisement It's not just health conditions or age that can pose vulnerabilities, however. 'Anybody who's working outside or people experiencing homelessness, they're more exposed to heat and that's a group or a population that's more at risk,' Metz said. How to protect yourself and others Metz notes that during heat waves, it's important for people to watch out for others and check in on neighbours because those living alone or socially isolated can also be vulnerable to heat. A B.C. coroner's report following the 2023 heat dome noted that 98 per cent of the 619 deaths identified as being related to heat occurred indoors, with 56 per cent of those who died living alone. 'Social cohesion or social connectedness has been shown to be a very important factor for resilience and for health during heat waves,' Metz said. Story continues below advertisement 'In fact, in some cultures where there are multi-generational families living together, it's just very natural for people to care about others … so they don't often experience the same kind of situation that we might have here in North America, where we have one generation living in a household. 'The ability to reach out, call someone, or stop by has been shown to greatly support health and well-being for people who are isolated.' She added that older adults and those living alone should reach out to other people to let them know they're on their own and are open to having someone check on them during periods of extreme weather. As a heat wave enters Ontario later this weekend, Metz said people should stay in the coolest part of their home if possible or go to a community cooling centre, wear lighter-coloured clothing if you have to go out, keep your doors and windows closed during the hottest parts of the day, and turn off items that may produce extra heat in your home. 'If you need to be out, you want to do that during the parts of the day that are the coolest,' she suggested, noting this means early mornings and late evenings.
