Latest news with #FalconLake
CTV News
29-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
More highways reopen in Whiteshell Provincial Park following wildfire closures
A sign for Whiteshell Provincial Park is pictured on May 20, 2025. (CTV News Winnipeg) Additional highways in Whiteshell Provincial Park have reopened as crews continue to battle a massive wildfire in the area. The province announced on Thursday morning that three more highways have reopened to traffic. The highways reopening include Highway 44 from Highway 307 to Highway 1 at West Hawk; Highway 301 from Highway 1 at Falcon Lake to Highway 44 at West Hawk, and Highway 307 from Highway 11 at Seven Sisters to Highway 44. The highways were closed to allow crews to battle a large fire in the area. While the three new highways have opened, Highway 309 from Highway 307 to Big Whiteshell Lake and Highway 312 from Highway 44 to Ingolf both remain closed to traffic because of the wildfires. A fire near Falcon Lake has been burning since May 15 and is listed as out of control. It is currently 3,771 hectares in size.
CBC
24-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
'Resentment is high,' says Whiteshell resident as homeowners, cottagers wait for information about return
Social Sharing Some permanent residents and cottagers at Whiteshell Provincial Park say frustration is growing as they wait to hear when they'll be allowed to return home, after the province of Manitoba lifted evacuation orders for some parts of the park earlier this week. The province issued an evacuation order on May 13, closing the eastern Manitoba park on May 15 due to extreme fire conditions. On Thursday, Manitoba Parks let permanent residents, cottagers and commercial operators return to Falcon Lake and Barren Lake, in the south of the provincial park. Manitoba's latest fire bulletin shows a wildfire burning at the Manitoba-Ontario border, near Ingolf, had reached a total 32,000 hectares in size, with about 1,650 hectares on the Manitoba side. In that Friday update, the province reiterated that some parts of the Whiteshell were safe but said "more suppression is needed" before other areas can reopen. Golf courses have resumed operations, fishing tournaments are underway and couples are celebrating their weddings this weekend at Falcon Lake, said Brian Zimmerman, a permanent Whiteshell resident. But just under 15 kilometres northwest of Falcon Lake, his home at the West Hawk Lake is still under an evacuation order. "We just keep being told that the fire is still going and it's in danger," Zimmerman said. "But it's not near our place at all, and we just don't understand how seven minutes away, everything is open.… Every area around here is vulnerable." A spokesperson for the province said Manitoba is working to protect lives and ensure firefighters can do their jobs safely. As soon as people can return, they will be notified, the statement said. Updates 'word of mouth or via Facebook': resident But Jocelyn Martin, who has had a home at West Hawk Lake with her husband, Jason Martin, for 25 years, said residents and cottagers have largely been left in the dark, combing through social media posts to figure out what's happening. "Most of the updates about the fires and the evacuation have been coming through word of mouth or via Facebook," Jocelyn Martin said. She said the community has largely been left to gather information on their own, leading to growing frustration over what they say is lack of communication from Manitoba Parks and provincial officials. "The resentment is high," said Jocelyn. "It's becoming ugly amongst the community because of the lack of communication." Jason Martin said he and Jocelyn are taking each day as it comes, couch-surfing while waiting for updates. "I don't think anybody wants to go back into the park or to a cottage or to a home, like ours, with any risk. That's not the concern, but the lack of detail and misinformation and misdirection," he said. Barb Bobychuk has been staying in Winnipeg since the wildfires forced her out of her home in Caddy Lake. She was hoping to get an update on when her family might be allowed back home on Saturday. "We've had no communication from the government, we have no clue as to when we're going to be allowed back, even though the fires in the north have not changed direction," Bobychuk said. Bobychuk said she got the evacuation order through word of mouth, unlike during a wildfire in 2016, when Manitoba Parks went door to door. The province said it provides regular updates on the fire to park residents and cottagers through the chamber of commerce and the Whiteshell Cottagers Association. But Bobychuk said information is not shared daily, and often lacks important details. "We don't know where the fires are burning, if they're burning close to us, any hot spots, who's working them," she said. She said a dedicated website for Whiteshell fire updates "is something that should have been done and instituted immediately." "If we had knowledge, we would then feel a little better," said Bobychuk.
CBC
21-05-2025
- CBC
Footage captures fire at Peter Nygard's former cottage in Whiteshell
A livestream and a home security camera at a property in Falcon Lake, Man., captured a Tuesday, May 20 fire that burned down a cottage formerly owned by disgraced fashion mogul Peter Nygard.
CBC
21-05-2025
- CBC
Arson a 'strong possibility' in cottage fire in Whiteshell, Manitoba RCMP say
There's a "very strong possibility" arson caused a fire that destroyed a cottage on the southern edge of Whiteshell Provincial Park, RCMP say. Police are investigating a fire in the Block 11 subdivision at Falcon Lake, RCMP said in a news release Wednesday. Officers received a report about the fire Tuesday at 8:50 p.m., the news release said. The local fire department and the Manitoba Wilfdfire Service extinguished the blaze. Police said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Sgt. Paul Manaigre, media relations officer for the RCMP, said arson is possible, but investigators won't know for sure until experts examine the scene. The fire happened as firefighters continue efforts to control nearby wildfires in Lac du Bonnet, Nopiming Provincial Park and the Ingolf fire along the Ontario border. The fires forced the closure and evacuation of the Whiteshell last week. No injuries were reported in the cottage fire. Anyone with information is asked to call Falcon Lake RCMP at 204-349-2588 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers online or at 1-800-222-8477.
CTV News
21-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Some areas of Whiteshell Provincial Park reopen following wildfires
Officers stationed at the entrance to Falcon Lake assisting with the evacuation. (Danton Unger/CTV News) Manitobans will be able to return to parts of Whiteshell Provincial Park as some closures have been lifted. Ken Pickering with the Whiteshell Cottagers Association said as of Wednesday at 9 a.m. closures will end for south Whiteshell, Falcon Lake and Barren Lake, as well as some areas in the north. All other areas, including Pointe du Bois, remain closed. 'There's still some risks that Manitoba Wildfire Services need to get a handle on,' he said. Pickering added Whiteshell campgrounds, including seasonal camping trails and backcountry areas, remain closed. -With files from CTV's Rachel Lagacé
