Pointe du Bois reopens after 'more progress' controlling wildfires around Whiteshell
A section in the northwest corner of Whiteshell Provincial Park has reopened to the public after the province says there has been "more progress" in battling out-of-control wildfires.
Permanent residents, cottagers, commercial operators and visitors are allowed back into Pointe du Bois as of Sunday morning, the province said in its latest fire bulletin.
The area, roughly 120 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, had been under a mandatory evacuation order for almost two weeks after extreme fire conditions from out-of-control wildfires encroaching on the park forced its closure to the public.
The province reopened the first pockets of the Whiteshell on Thursday, including Sylvia Lake, Eleanor Lake, Dorothy Lake, Otter Falls, Barrier Bay, Nutimik Lake and Betula Lake on the west side of the park.
Those returning to the park "must be prepared to evacuate with little notice," the bulletin said.
Manitoba Parks says "more progress has been made" to control the blazes, but the wildfires are still large, complex and expected to remain active.
Weather forecasts are also not favourable with warm, dry conditions and no rain in the week ahead, the province said.
"Many Manitobans are eager to return to the parks that remain closed, but public safety remains the top priority," the bulletin said.
As of Friday, the largest fire encroaching on the park stretches over 101,000 hectares north of the Whiteshell in Nopiming Provincial Park.
A wildfire is also burning at the Manitoba-Ontario border, near Ingolf, reaching a total 32,000 hectares in size, with about 1,650 hectares on the Manitoba side as of Friday.
"Restrictions and closures remain in place for everyone's safety and allows fire crews and emergency responders space to do their work," the province said.
The majority of the Whiteshell remains under a mandatory evacuation order. The campgrounds in the provincial park remain closed to limit overnight guests, hiking trails are closed and backcountry travel is prohibited.
The province is asking for patience and cooperation as the situation continues to unfold.
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