Wildfire prompts second evacuation of Lynn Lake in northern Manitoba
Town officials say a fire is threatening Manitoba Hydro transmission lines and, if those lines are damaged, the community could be without power for a month.
The town is offering transportation for evacuees and a reception centre has been set up in Brandon, about 1,100 kilometres by road to the south.
Town officials also say several other nearby wildfires, including two blazes to the southeast, could cut off travel between Lynn Lake and Thompson.
Manitoba has been experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons in recent years, and about 21,000 people were forced to flee their homes in June.
Manitoba Hydro says flames near Lynn Lake are close to the area's transmission line, and strong winds and high temperatures have added to the problem.
Wednesdays
Sent weekly from the heart of Turtle Island, an exploration of Indigenous voices, perspectives and experiences.
'There are three fingers of a fire moving towards the transmission line that feeds the town of Lynn Lake. As of late last night, the fire was within two kilometres of that line,' Manitoba Hydro spokesperson Scott Powell said Friday.
Fire crews are battling the blaze, but if the transmission line is severely damaged, restoring power in the remote area would take time, Powell added.
'Any time we have difficult terrain — swamps, inaccessibility from roads — obviously, restoration takes longer.'
The most recent update from the Manitoba government said there were 60 wildfires burning in the province, with 17 of them classified as out of control. The fire near Lynn Lake covered more than 80,000 hectares.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
5 hours ago
- Global News
Full impact of Manitoba wildfires reflected in hydro outages, Crown corp says
The impact of wildfires in northern Manitoba continues to be felt, with thousands of evacuees still waiting to return home as major hydro repair efforts are underway. Manitoba Hydro said Friday that around 1,300 customers in five communities are currently without power due to damage caused by the fires, with more than 1,200 hydro poles in need of repair or replacement. While the Crown corporation says more than 500 damaged poles have already been replaced or repaired since the wildfire season started, there's a lot more work to do, especially as other equipment, like transformers and power lines, has also been affected in many cases. Hydro's Peter Chura told Global Winnipeg that in many cases, even getting to the impacted sites to complete repairs can be a challenge. 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 'Once we get to the point of being able to get into these areas to repair damage, they're very remote areas — in some cases with very limited road access, and in some cases, even in the best of conditions, we would still need helicopters to move crews and equipment up there. Story continues below advertisement 'It's a very challenging time and we definitely feel for all the people who are out of their homes.' There's currently no estimate for how long it will take to get all of the affected areas up and running to pre-wildfire levels. Chura said this summer has been the worst wildfire season Manitoba Hydro has dealt with in decades. 'Fires are still burning and there's damage in areas that have been inaccessible to us for safety reasons,' he said. 'There's damages in areas we're just getting a look at now, even by air.'
CTV News
5 hours ago
- CTV News
Rain arrives on B.C.'s south coast, with up to 80 mm expected
A man uses an umbrella to shield himself from the rain while walking on the Stanley Park seawall across the water from downtown Vancouver, on Saturday, October 19, 2024. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press) A rainfall warning is in effect for much of B.C.'s south coast, with up to 80 millimetres expected in a single day. Environment Canada issued an alert for Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, the Howe Sound region and the Fraser Valley, with those regions expected to see between 50 mm and 80 mm precipitation Friday. The warning includes Burnaby, New Westminster, the North Shore, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, and Gibsons. 'An unseasonably moisture-laden frontal system will cross the B.C. south coast today bringing heavy rain,' the weather agency said Friday. The warm front will bring rain and strong southerly winds in the morning, while the cold front will bring the heaviest rainfall in the afternoon, Environment Canada said. Commuters are advised to be prepared for poor visibility come late afternoon, and an increased risk of hydroplaning. Flash flooding and water pooling may occur on the roads. Those out in the rain should be conscious of the potential for sudden rises in river and creek levels. The heavy showers are expected to end late Friday evening on the Sunshine Coast, and after midnight across eastern Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley.
CBC
21 hours ago
- CBC
Pukatawagan calls for generators to expedite return of evacuees
After the First Nation asked Manitoba Hydro for generators, the utility said it's focusing on repairing power infrastructure damaged by wildfires to restore electricity. Without power, it's unclear when Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (also known as Pukatawagan) could lift one of the longest-running evacuation orders in the province this summer.
