Thousands on evacuation order in northern Manitoba due to wildfires
Thousands of people are being ordered to flee their homes in northern Manitoba due to a threat from nearby wildfires.
The City of Flin Flon, Man., shared on social media on Wednesday afternoon that all residents and visitors must leave as soon as possible and in a calm and orderly manner.
Residents are expected to be out of the community by 12 a.m. (midnight) on Wednesday.
For community members with their own transportation, they are advised to evacuate through Provincial Road #10, heading towards The Pas, city officials said.
The #10 may have some visibility issues, but it is currently considered safe to drive. Do not attempt to drive through PR #39 directly towards Thompson.
1:49
Wildfires prompt new evacuations across Western Canada
Flin Flon Mayor George Fontaine told 680 CJOB's The Start that the current population is around 5,000, and many of them experienced similar fears when wildfires approached in 2024, threatening nearby Cranberry Portage.
Story continues below advertisement
For those evacuating on Wednesday, they should bring identification, medications, necessary supplies, go bags and any provisions for pets.
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
If anyone does not have access to accommodations, call 2-11 for information about shelters in Winnipeg.
In addition, nearly 17,500 people in northern Manitoba's First Nations are now trying to get to safety. Two more First Nations are on evacuation notice.
According to the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc., Pimicikamak's airport is non-operational due to the fire threat.
Thousands are attempting to be flown out and the community is also isolated by fire from the main highway.
Marcel Colomb First Nation is also evacuated, and the community of Sherridon. Mathias Colomb Cree Nation is immediately evacuating as fire activity threatens limited escape routes, access to its airport is cut-off, and trains are also not operating because of the fire threat.
The organization is urging the Manitoba government to declare a province-wide state of emergency.
More to come…
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
Drizzle in northern Manitoba not enough to quench wildfires as community leaders hope for downpour
Social Sharing As evacuees fleeing wildfires in northern Manitoba watched rain fall in parts of the province on Sunday, community leaders are warning the north needs heavier downpour to help firefighters on the ground. Lori Forbes, emergency co-ordinator for the Rural Municipality of Kelsey, said Sunday's rain didn't fall where it was needed most. "We did get the rain in The Pas but we need the rain in the north. We need the rain where the fires are to help the firefighters," Forbes said. She said The Pas was about 100 kilometres away from the fire on Sunday afternoon. According to the province's most recent fire bulletin on Sunday, the wildfire near Sherridon is more than 300,000 hectares in size and is still out of control. "The further north you went, the less rain there was," Forbes said. The eight-degree temperatures are helping fire crews, she said, but it's windy and the weather is "changing very quickly." Flin Flon Mayor George Fontaine said he has been staying with his son in Winnipeg since the northern Manitoba city was evacuated nearly two weeks ago. Fontaine told CBC News that Saturday was a cooler day with calmer winds, allowing crews to wet down areas near the town and put out some hot spots. However, the weather and fire behaviour has been unpredictable, he said. "I don't know that we can say what's going to happen, but I'm hoping for rain, I'll tell you that," Fontaine said from Winnipeg, as a heavy downpour was hitting the pavement just before 4 p.m. CT. "Well, if they got there, what we're getting here today, that would be a lovely thing," he said. Sheryl Matheson, Sherridon's deputy mayor and president of Northern Association of Community Councils, said there was light rain in the area that caused a lot of smoke. "It wasn't a significant amount of rain that was coming down. It needs to turn into more of a downpour," she said. She said the drizzle has been keeping the ground wet, but it isn't enough to help crews battling the fire. "We're praying for a downpour," Matheson said.
Global News
7 hours ago
- Global News
Air quality alerts ease across much of Quebec and Ontario after days of haze
Environment Canada says air quality has improved across most of Quebec and Ontario as changes in wind and rain ease the situation east of the Prairies, where wildfires continue to rage. The federal department lifted alerts for most parts of both provinces Sunday after two days of poor air quality warnings and a haze that hung over cities including Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. 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 But special air quality warnings or statements remain in place for some areas, including communities east of Montreal, south of Quebec City and in parts of northern Ontario, especially those near the Manitoba border. Poor air quality continues to envelop the Prairie provinces this weekend, as swaths of six provinces and the Northwest Territories are experiencing poor air quality and reduced visibility due to forest fires. Environment Canada says a low pressure system passing through the Prairies and into Manitoba and northwestern Ontario by Monday is expected to bring rain to areas hit by the out-of-control blazes. Story continues below advertisement Authorities recommend those in affected areas stay indoors when possible and avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
Global News
a day ago
- Global News
Cooler weather, light rain helping some provinces in fight against wildfires
The Saskatchewan government is boosting support it's giving to wildfire evacuees, while officials say light rain and cooler temperatures this weekend could help keep some of the province's larger fires in check. Bryan Chartrand with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency told a news conference in Prince Albert, Sask., on Saturday that it's been mostly 'status quo' with the large fires in the past 24 hours. In addition to more favourable weather, Chartrand says there haven't been any new lightning-caused fires, and he says fires have also reached natural barriers such as lakes which have stopped their growth. The province announced Saturday a hike in financial assistance for those registered with the SPSA, raising the amount provided to the head of household to $40 per day, up from $20, and additional household members will get $20 per day, up from $10. Story continues below advertisement Marlo Pritchard with the SPSA told the news conference that the government raised the amounts because it's been a number of years since the supports have been increased. The province says in its latest statement there are 24 active wildfires in Saskatchewan and 33 communities have evacuated. 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 'While we are hoping to soon have some individuals and families repatriated back to their communities, we know that some will have to continue to be evacuated as we deal with ensuring safe cleanup of these devastating wildfires,' Saskatchewan Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod said in a statement. 'Frontline crews and multiple agencies are working as quickly as possible to do so.' Pritchard said the new support for evacuees, which he said remains between 10,000 and 15,000 people, is in addition to the $15 million the government is already supplying to the Canadian Red Cross for evacuee assistance. He told Saturday's news conference that people should not bring donations to hotels where evacuees are staying, noting the government will announce details, possibly early next week, on how people in Saskatchewan can help people displaced by fires. 0:28 Province of Manitoba providing financial support for wildfire evacuees Environment Canada said Saturday a low pressure system passing through the Prairies, currently in northern Saskatchewan and expected to move into Manitoba and northwestern Ontario by Monday, is expected to bring precipitation for areas hit by out-of-control forest fires. Story continues below advertisement The Manitoba government said despite rain in the forecast and temperatures cooling to seasonal levels, Manitoba continues to be under very high to extreme wildfire danger. Northern Alberta was not expected to see much relief from the low-pressure system, according to Environment Canada, as there was little rain in the forecast.
