Preparation trumps fear ahead of official start to wildfire season
The province is touting a record number of applicants to battle flames in the hinterlands. With the official start of the 2025 wildfire season just one week away, a special effort is being made to recruit First Nations firefighters. As Liam Britten reports, two leaders of those efforts are excited at the prospect.
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CTV News
19 hours ago
- CTV News
Manitoba communities prepare to return home after wildfires displaced thousands
WINNIPEG -- Two First Nations organizations are teaming up to provide services for northern Manitoba wildfire evacuees, while some affected communities are getting set to return home. The Southern Chiefs' Organization, which represents 32 First Nations in southern Manitoba, says it will provide culturally safe supports to hundreds who have fled to Brandon, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie and the Winkler and Morden area. Thousands from five northern First Nations have been forced out of their home communities over the last two weeks, with many of them staying in Winnipeg. The organization will oversee the operation of reception centres, distribute supplies and provide on-site safety and security at evacuation centres and hotels in collaboration with local municipalities and emergency services. Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said the organization is committed to compassionate, dignified and culturally grounded care. Expand Autoplay 1 of 7 Wab Kinew Premier Wab Kinew looks out window of the plane during a tour of wildfires in northern Manitoba including Flin Flon and Thompson. June 12, 2025. (Mike Deal/Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) 'Having to meet the need that we are seeing on the ground, I think, has been the highest priority for all of us and being able to do that in a timely way, as well, has been very important to everybody who's going through this situation right now.' Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents 26 northern First Nations, including those that have evacuated, has spearheaded support efforts in Winnipeg, but said it needed help to reach evacuees outside the city. 'We don't have enough manpower to be able to go to all of these,' Grand Chief Garrison Settee told reporters Friday. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has said some hotel owners are not doing enough to help evacuees. After touring some fire-hit areas Thursday, he said most hotel operators have been great, but some need to open up rooms as there are evacuees still sleeping in cots in emergency shelters. Meanwhile, some communities are preparing to return home this weekend. Residents from Snow Lake, in northwestern Manitoba, have been told the mandatory evacuation order issued a week ago has been lifted. People can begin going home early Saturday, the town said on social media. The post told residents to stock up on groceries and other essential supplies and pack a to-go bag in case fire conditions worsen and they have to evacuate again. Officials in Flin Flon said late Thursday that fire crews are holding the fire line and conditions are stabilizing. Deputy Mayor Alison Dallas-Funk said the city has reached out to the Northern Health Region to see about reinstating basic core health care services, one of the conditions that needs to be met before the city's 5,000 residents can return. 'We're hoping to get some answers from them as soon as possible,' she said. About 21,000 people in Manitoba have had to evacuate, including from Flin Flon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation and other areas. There's a fire burning about five kilometres away from Pimicikamak, while the one near Flin Flon is the largest in the province, spanning about 3,000 square kilometres. A smaller fire is burning south of Cranberry Portage, but the community's 600 residents will be allowed to return home starting Saturday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Calgary Herald
Canada has already surpassed a year's worth of charred land from wildfires
Article content Wildfires across Canada are devouring land at a pace unseen in any year other than the historic 2023 season. Article content With more than 3.15 million hectares burned, according to Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre data, the season has already raced past the annual average, even when including the past two major fire seasons. Article content Article content The 25-year average for land burned is 2.95 million hectares. This year's tally is poised to finish well above normal. Article content Article content Dozens of active wildfires are burning from northern British Columbia and Alberta in a belt extending southeastward to Ontario. Many new blazes have started in recent weeks as a result of lightning, which is a common fire starter. The most intense fire activity has shifted its focus westward over recent days, partly a result of high heat in the country's west and increased rainfall in central Canada. Article content Article content The wildfires, mostly burning in dense boreal forest, continue to send thick smoke far from the source. Much of southwest and south-central Canada is under an air quality alert Tuesday, including the cities of Edmonton and Regina, where air quality reached Code Red levels in the morning. Article content Article content -British Columbia has two of those huge out-of-control conflagrations, among 86 active wildfires there, including one closing in on 200,000 hectares in the province's far north that is suspected to have carried over from last year after smoldering through the winter. Another to its south grew rapidly during recent days, past 120,000 hectares, leading to evacuation orders for rural indigenous First Nations regions Sunday. Article content -To the east, in Alberta, there are 60 active fires, five of which are 50,000 hectares or larger and classified as out of control. The largest fire, sparked by lightning and mostly burning north of Edmonton, in oil country and forestland, was past 130,000 hectares as of Monday. Article content -Central Saskatchewan's Shoe Fire – 161 kilometres north of Saskatoon – is the largest in the nation overall, now past 500,000 hectares in size. Despite improving conditions, evacuations from 33 rural communities continue, according to local reports. The entire area had notable rainfall in recent days, which has assisted in reducing imminent risks. Hotspots persist, especially on the southern flank.
CBC
06-06-2025
- CBC
Your guide to B.C. wildfires 2025: Maps, evacuation orders, air quality and more
Social Sharing With parts of B.C. entering a third year of drought, wildfires are already forcing evacuations and threatening homes, primarily in the province's northeast. The following is a list of resources available to help get prepared for wildfires in advance, as well as how to find up-to-date local information on evacuation orders and alerts, road closures and air quality advisories as the season develops. Tracking wildfires in your region The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) provides a list of all current wildfires in the province, as well as an interactive map that allows you to see where the fires are burning relative to specific communities. It also maintains a daily dashboard that provides an overview of the provincial wildfire situation and forecast. Particular attention is paid to wildfires of note, which are "highly visible" or pose "a potential threat to public safety." Wildfires may also be classified as out of control, which means crews are not able to curb their spread. These fires may not necessarily pose a threat to public safety if they are far from homes or property. Regular updates are posted by the service on Facebook, X and YouTube, and it also offers an app through the Apple App Store and Google Play. Evacuation orders and alerts Local governments and First Nations are responsible for issuing evacuation orders and alerts during emergencies. An evacuation alert means you should be prepared to leave your property at a moment's notice. An evacuation order means you must leave the area immediately and are not allowed inside the area covered by the order. These are often enforced by police. Many local governments have set up text alert systems, which you can sign up for by visiting your municipal government website. Regional districts often take the lead when it comes to emergency situations. CivicInfo B.C. maintains a directory of regional districts. After a local government issues an evacuation order or alert, the information is posted online by Emergency Info B.C. Everyone affected by an evacuation order is asked to check in at a reception centre or via phone so officials can be sure they are safe. Understanding wildfire terminology In addition to wildfires of note and out of control wildfires, here are some other key terms you may hear: A wildfire is an unplanned fire that occurs in a wilderness area, away from people or structures. A prescribed burn is a planned and controlled use of fire. If it escapes its intended perimeter, it can also be considered a wildfire. An interface fire is one that has the potential to affect man-made structures and at the same time burn natural fuels such as trees and shrubs. In this situation, a house fire could jump to the forest or vice versa. When a fire is under control but still smouldering it is being held. A fire is considered contained when a fuel-free perimeter has been established around the blaze. You can find a full glossary of terms on the BCWS website. Be prepared to evacuate Officials recommend you prepare a grab-bag of key items, such as identification, medication and cellphones, so you are ready to leave at a moment's notice. If your home is under an evacuation alert, it is recommended you bring your grab-bag with you when you run errands or go to work, in case evacuation orders are issued while you're out and you're unable to return home. Prepared B.C. has a suggested packing list on its website, as does the federal government. Road closures You can check road conditions, closures, delays and detours by visiting the DriveBC website, maintained by the province's transportation ministry. If you do not have internet access, you can call 1-800-550-4997 toll free to find out current conditions. Accessing shelter and support If you are affected by an emergency situation, supports are in place so you have a place to sleep and can access food vouchers and receive financial aid. This information is collected on the B.C. government's emergency management website. The B.C. government has also introduced a $200 a night payment for evacuees to use toward hotel rooms. The money can be collected in person at emergency reception centres or via e-transfer by registering at You can create a profile in advance so you are prepared in case of an emergency. Insurance The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) says all standard homeowner and tenant insurance policies cover damage caused by fires and also provide coverage to help with the cost of mass evacuations. It has put together a help page with information for evacuees hoping to file a claim. IBC advises anyone forced to flee to make a list of damaged or destroyed items and keep receipts for expenses they incur. The more details, it says, the better when it comes to making a claim. The bureau also recommends getting your insurance claim started as soon as possible. Burn bans and restrictions The B.C. government provides a list of all fire bans and restrictions. Not all burn bans include a ban on campfires: Open burning bans may restrict the use of burn barrels or fireworks, for example, while still allowing for smaller controlled campfires. You can learn more about the different categories of burn bans on the B.C. government's open burning page. To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, you can call 1-800-663-5555, or *5555 on a cellphone. Air quality Even if flames aren't an imminent threat, smoke from wildfires can travel hundreds of kilometres and affect people's health. B.C.'s Ministry of Environment issues air quality advisories and smoky skies bulletins on its website, which are also distributed as public weather alerts by Environment Canada and through social media channels. The B.C. government provides an air quality health index and map that use data from monitoring stations across the province. You can also sign up for air quality advisories and smoky skies bulletins for your region through email or text message on the province's B.C. Air Quality website. Additionally, researchers at the University of Northern British Columbia have partnered with Environment and Climate Change Canada to create a crowdsourced map using air quality monitors from across the country. Causes: lightning vs. human activity The causes of wildfires in B.C. are divided into two broad categories: lightning and human activity. The BCWS says, on average, 60 per cent of all wildfires in the province are caused by lightning. WATCH | An intense August 2023 lightning storm: More than a dozen lightning strikes in under a minute filmed in Prince George, B.C. 2 years ago Duration 0:51 The B.C. Wildfire Service says more than 2,500 lightning strikes were recorded between the evening of July 20 and morning of July 21 in the Prince George Fire Centre, which covers the northeastern quadrant of the province. Human-caused wildfires are all fires that are not the result of lightning. This can include fires set deliberately or by accident, including through campfires, sparks from railways or industrial activity, discarded cigarettes, fireworks or lanterns. The BCWS and other law enforcement agencies may all be involved in investigating human-caused wildfires, and investigations can take months to complete. Protect your home through FireSmart B.C. FireSmart B.C. is a program aimed at preventing wildfires with tools aimed at First Nations, local governments and fire departments. It offers a series of guides for individuals on how to manage the landscape around homes and properties to decrease the risk of wildfires causing damage, including landscaping guides and tips on maintaining your home to be as fire-resistant as possible. WATCH | West Kelowna fire chief wants focus on preventing future blazes: After disastrous 2023, West Kelowna fire chief wants funding to focus on fire prevention 1 year ago Duration 3:45 It's been eight months since catastrophic fires tore through West Kelowna, destroying hundreds of homes. For West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund, there are important lessons to learn, particularly in the area of mitigation work to remove wildfire fuels in forested areas. CBC's Sarah Penton met up with Brolund in a regional park that was hit by the McDougall Creek fire last August. Helping others The BCWS says it cannot accept donations of food, supplies or equipment, nor can individual members. Instead, it suggests those wishing to help work with organizations like the Canadian Red Cross, which has launched an appeal to help support people affected by wildfires. The Red Cross says financial donations are the best way to help, so resources can be directed where they are needed and not go to waste. Canadians wishing to make a donation can do so online at or by calling 1-800-418-1111. You can check for verified charities through CanadaHelps.
