Latest news with #GordieBear
Canada Standard
2 days ago
- General
- Canada Standard
'We're Getting Desperate': Chinook Helicopters En Route as 2,000 Stranded by Manitoba Wildfire
Two Canadian Forces Chinook helicopters were on their way to the Pukatawagan Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba Saturday morning, where about 2,000 people were stranded with a wildfire just a kilometre away. The community, also known as the Mathias Colomb First Nation, declared an emergency after the airport was closed by a power outage and smoke, while rail lines were blocked by the flames. Located about 700 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, Pukatawagan has no road access, and navigation on nearby waterways is not considered safe. Chinooks have a capacity of 35 to 55 passengers plus crew. First responders previously had access to smaller helicopters that were evacuating people six to 13 at a time. "We're getting desperate now," Chief Gordie Bear told CBC News Thursday. "It's getting rougher. We're going to be heading for the lake... shortly if nothing turns out, if nothing puts the flame out." "We need more resources. We need to move them immediately," said band councillor Kelly Linklater. "The community is in a panic." "I don't even like the words 'to be patient,'" added councillor Connie Constant. "We can't be patient. We need action. We need action now." Constant was responding to Premier Wab Kinew's calls for calm, during a media briefing Friday where he tried to respond to criticisms that evacuations in First Nations communities had been slow and poorly planned. "With transportation, the Canadian Armed Forces is in the business of meticulous planning before they deploy aircraft or before they deploy their troops," Kinew said. "I understand how Manitobans might look at a given situation and have questions. But I'm here to reassure you and tell you that you have the best people leading the response." Kinew said the local hospital in The Pas was under a code orange, meaning it was preparing for a mass casualty or disaster event, CBC reports. View our latest digests On Saturday morning, Manitoba's wildfire map listed the fire near Pukatawagan, designated WE025, at 9,785 hectares and out of control. The site identified 106 active fires across the province totalling 416,340 hectares. On Thursday, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson had decried "delays in response times, delays in supports," warning that "lives are being threatened by wildfires, yet we have to sit back and we have to wait. How is that fair?" On Friday, she said the situation was becoming dire, with communities kept in the dark on what's to be done. "Nobody is communicating with us. Nobody is communicating with our leadership," she told a news conference in Winnipeg, adding that communities were getting only vague reassurances when they asked for firefighting equipment, including water pumps and hoses. "We have communities that have no electricity," she said. "They have no water. They're running out of fuel, running out food." Elsewhere, the chief of Cross Lake (Pimicikamak) Cree Nation credited Kinew with getting federal support for air evacuations, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) reports. "We have been calling on government of Canada to send the Canadian armed forces to help us. But they told me they had to wait for the province to exhaust their resources," Chief David Monias said on social media. "Thanks to Premier Wab Kinew, he called the Prime Minister and they will get the Canadian armed forces to help us." At his media conference Friday, Kinew said Manitoba has never before seen a moment where large wildfires were simultaneously burning in every part of the province. He called the crisis a "serious inflection point", with about 17,000 people evacuated from their homes so far. On Friday, Climate Central reported that inflection point was brought by an early-season heat wave made at least five times more likely by climate change. Temperatures have exceeded seasonal averages by 12.2 to 13.5C in Manitoba and by 6.6 to 11.4C in Saskatchewan, the U.S.-based analysts said, and both provinces are facing drought conditions ranging from Abnormally Dry to Moderate Drought. "This kind of heat would be incredibly unlikely without climate change," Climate Central Vice President of Science Dr. Kristina Dahl said in a release. "These conditions, which set the stage for dangerous wildfires, will only become more frequent and more severe if we continue burning fossil fuels." "Climate change-driven heat dries out vegetation and sets the stage for wildfires," added wildfire specialist Kaitlyn Trudeau, the organization's senior research associate for climate science. "Combine that with persistent drought and a locked-in high-pressure system, and you have a perfect storm." Kinew said as the fires grow, thousands more evacuees can be expected and that communities like Winnipeg, Thompson, and The Pas have already stepped up to help provide food and shelter. He said he spoke with some evacuees in Winnipeg. "(It's) very scary, very tiring, long days for people who've been on the road and in the air to find their way to safety," he said. Kinew said more outside help has arrived, including 125 firefighters from the United States. Winnipeg has opened up public buildings for evacuees as it deals with hotels already crammed with other fire refugees, vacationers, businesspeople, and conventiongoers. Manitoba declared a province-wide state of emergency Wednesday to trigger a coordinated response across levels of government. In northern Manitoba, more people were leaving their homes Saturday as wildfires continued to threaten communities, The Canadian Press reports. The roughly 600 residents of Cranberry Portage were placed under a mandatory evacuation order after fires knocked out power to the community-a situation expected to last for days. An evacuation of Pimicikamak Cree Nation, which started earlier this week, is ongoing and officials were expecting five flights to leave for Winnipeg Saturday. One of the major areas of concern is Flin Flon, a city of some 5,000 residents that has already been evacuated. A fire is burning very close to town and officials are worried a shift in the wind could bring flames right into the community. The forecast for the region does not call for rain in the coming days. Earlier Friday, Flin Flon Mayor George Fontaine said fierce winds were threatening to breach city limits and begin burning structures in the city of 5,000, located 630 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, CP writes. "Unless we get one heck of a boost, (the fire) is projected to take chunks out of our town and surrounding areas," Fontaine said in an interview. "It's looking very ugly right now. "We're begging for air support (to help douse the fire). It's really crucial." Beyond Manitoba, thousands have been affected by wildfires in Saskatchewan and Alberta, with 1,300 people in the community of Swan Hills northwest of Edmonton already forced from their homes, as have the 900 residents of Chateh in the northwestern corner of the province. Firefighters battling a blaze near Chipewyan Lake, Alberta, lost radio contact late Thursday and were forced to take shelter at the local fire hall and school. Major segments of this story were first published by The Canadian Press. Source: The Energy Mix
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pukatawagan evacuation ramps up: Larger aircraft arrive as airport reopens
The evacuation of a Manitoba First Nation forced out by wildfires is ramping up with larger aircraft helping out and the reopening of the community's only airport. However, concerns remain about the sheer number of residents still stranded days after they were ordered out. Thousands of people have been waiting to be flown out from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, also known as Pukatawagan, since the mandatory evacuation order came on Wednesday. Smoke from out-of-control wildfires shut down the community's only airstrip on Thursday. With some aircraft limited to groups of between six and 13 people since then, officials in the community had said it would take days before the evacuation would be complete. The airport reopened on Saturday morning after the smoke cleared enough to allow aircraft to land, Chief Gordie Bear told CBC News. WATCH | Helicopters for Pukatawagan evacuees land in The Pas: "We won't leave you behind, but you gotta wait in line then so that we can come out without a stampede, without fighting at the gate to get out," he said. However, the runway in Pukatawagan can only accommodate helicopters and light planes, excluding other military aircraft such as the Hercules that can handle a greater number of people, Bear said. "You can only do so much," he said. The out-control wildfire, first reported Tuesday, was 9,785 hectares in size and about a kilometre away from the community as of Thursday, according to the province's wildfire map. Double-rotor Chinook helicopters from the Canadian Forces were flying evacuees from Pukatawagan roughly 210 kilometres south to The Pas on Saturday. Bear said about 500 residents were expected to be evacuated during the 10-hour window limiting flight crews are timed out for the day and operations resume on Sunday morning. "It's very hard to speak for everybody in general, but nobody wants to leave," Bear said. "This is not a vacation, they are going into a different environment." The evacuation is also bringing the trauma some residential school survivors endured after being forcefully removed from their community as he was, Bear said. However, the threat of the wildfire, combined with the smoke-filled air and a power outage means everyone must leave, Bear said. Opaskwayak Cree Nation set up a centre for evacuees to help them transition into more permanent shelters in southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg and Brandon, said Diane Pelly, executive director for government services in the community. "There's nowhere here in the north … to accommodate them," she said. "Everybody's really being tested with the supports that are required, and unfortunately, it is relocating to the south." Hundreds of evacuees came from Flin Flon on Wednesday. The next day the centre started welcoming people from Pukatwagan who have been arriving in helicopters at the Clearwater Lake Airport in The Pas. Some evacuees were expected to travel in an emergency VIA Rail train to southern Manitoba on Friday, Pelly said. She was also aware there are also plans to temporarily relocate others to Ontario. But in the process, she said, some families are losing track of relatives, spurring worry during an already stressful situation. "We're doing our very best to move them as quickly as possible," Pelly said. "There's still a large number of individuals that need to be transferred out." Are you an evacuee who needs assistance? Contact Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or email 211mb@
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Pukatawagan evacuation ramps up: Larger aircraft arrive as airport reopens
The evacuation of a Manitoba First Nation forced out by wildfires is ramping up with larger aircraft helping out and the reopening of the community's only airport. However, concerns remain about the sheer number of residents still stranded days after they were ordered out. Thousands of people have been waiting to be flown out from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, also known as Pukatawagan, since the mandatory evacuation order came on Wednesday. Smoke from out-of-control wildfires shut down the community's only airstrip on Thursday. With some aircraft limited to groups of between six and 13 people since then, officials in the community had said it would take days before the evacuation would be complete. The airport reopened on Saturday morning after the smoke cleared enough to allow aircraft to land, Chief Gordie Bear told CBC News. WATCH | Helicopters for Pukatawagan evacuees land in The Pas: "We won't leave you behind, but you gotta wait in line then so that we can come out without a stampede, without fighting at the gate to get out," he said. However, the runway in Pukatawagan can only accommodate helicopters and light planes, excluding other military aircraft such as the Hercules that can handle a greater number of people, Bear said. "You can only do so much," he said. The out-control wildfire, first reported Tuesday, was 9,785 hectares in size and about a kilometre away from the community as of Thursday, according to the province's wildfire map. Double-rotor Chinook helicopters from the Canadian Forces were flying evacuees from Pukatawagan roughly 210 kilometres south to The Pas on Saturday. Bear said about 500 residents were expected to be evacuated during the 10-hour window limiting flight crews are timed out for the day and operations resume on Sunday morning. "It's very hard to speak for everybody in general, but nobody wants to leave," Bear said. "This is not a vacation, they are going into a different environment." The evacuation is also bringing the trauma some residential school survivors endured after being forcefully removed from their community as he was, Bear said. However, the threat of the wildfire, combined with the smoke-filled air and a power outage means everyone must leave, Bear said. Opaskwayak Cree Nation set up a centre for evacuees to help them transition into more permanent shelters in southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg and Brandon, said Diane Pelly, executive director for government services in the community. "There's nowhere here in the north … to accommodate them," she said. "Everybody's really being tested with the supports that are required, and unfortunately, it is relocating to the south." Hundreds of evacuees came from Flin Flon on Wednesday. The next day the centre started welcoming people from Pukatwagan who have been arriving in helicopters at the Clearwater Lake Airport in The Pas. Some evacuees were expected to travel in an emergency VIA Rail train to southern Manitoba on Friday, Pelly said. She was also aware there are also plans to temporarily relocate others to Ontario. But in the process, she said, some families are losing track of relatives, spurring worry during an already stressful situation. "We're doing our very best to move them as quickly as possible," Pelly said. "There's still a large number of individuals that need to be transferred out." Are you an evacuee who needs assistance? Contact Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or email 211mb@
CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
Pukatawagan evacuation ramps up: Larger aircraft arrive as airport reopens
The evacuation of a Manitoba First Nation forced out by wildfires is ramping up with larger aircraft helping out and the reopening of the community's only airport. However, concerns remain about the sheer number of residents still stranded days after they were ordered out. Thousands of people have been waiting to be flown out from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, also known as Pukatawagan, since the mandatory evacuation order came on Wednesday. Smoke from out-of-control wildfires shut down the community's only airstrip on Thursday. With some aircraft limited to groups of between six and 13 people since then, officials in the community had said it would take days before the evacuation would be complete. The airport reopened on Saturday morning after the smoke cleared enough to allow aircraft to land, Chief Gordie Bear told CBC News. "We won't leave you behind, but you gotta wait in line then so that we can come out without a stampede, without fighting at the gate to get out," he said. However, the runway in Pukatawagan can only accommodate helicopters and light planes, excluding other military aircraft such as the Hercules that can handle a greater number of people, Bear said. "You can only do so much," he said. The out-control wildfire, first reported Tuesday, was 9,785 hectares in size and about a kilometre away from the community as of Thursday, according to the province's wildfire map. Double-rotor Chinook helicopters from the Canadian Forces were flying evacuees from Pukatawagan roughly 210 kilometres south to The Pas on Saturday. Bear said about 500 residents were expected to be evacuated during the 10-hour window limiting flight crews are timed out for the day and operations resume on Sunday morning. "It's very hard to speak for everybody in general, but nobody wants to leave," Bear said. "This is not a vacation, they are going into a different environment." The evacuation is also bringing the trauma some residential school survivors endured after being forcefully removed from their community as he was, Bear said. However, the threat of the wildfire, combined with the smoke-filled air and a power outage means everyone must leave, Bear said. Opaskwayak Cree Nation set up a centre for evacuees to help them transition into more permanent shelters in southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg and Brandon, said Diane Pelly, executive director for government services in the community. "There's nowhere here in the north … to accommodate them," she said. "Everybody's really being tested with the supports that are required, and unfortunately, it is relocating to the south." Hundreds of evacuees came from Flin Flon on Wednesday. The next day the centre started welcoming people from Pukatwagan who have been arriving in helicopters at the Clearwater Lake Airport in The Pas. Some evacuees were expected to travel in an emergency VIA Rail train to southern Manitoba on Friday, Pelly said. She was also aware there are also plans to temporarily relocate others to Ontario. But in the process, she said, some families are losing track of relatives, spurring worry during an already stressful situation. "We're doing our very best to move them as quickly as possible," Pelly said. "There's still a large number of individuals that need to be transferred out."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
'The community is in a panic': Pukatawagan calls for more help as smoke keeps airport closed
The chief and council of Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, also known as Pukatawagan, say residents are growing more anxious as the community's only airstrip remains closed because of wildfire smoke. The northern Manitoba community's airport was still not useable as of Friday afternoon, Pukatawagan councillors said at a news conference with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak. Chief Gordie Bear told CBC News the airport closed around 6:30 p.m. CT Thursday, as winds pushed smoke from the nearby wildfire toward it and the community, preventing planes from landing. Two days after Manitoba declared a provincewide state of emergency and Pukatawagan was ordered evacuated, more than 2,000 people still need to be transported out of the community, Coun. Kelly Linklater said at the news conference. "We need more resources. We need to move them immediately," Linklater said."The community is in a panic." Linklater said first responders have resorted to using helicopters to fly people out, but at the rate that's going, it would take days to move everyone. Coun. Connie Constant said between six and 13 people can fit on the helicopters, depending on the aircraft's size. The fire, which was first reported Tuesday, according to the province's wildfire map, was 9,785 hectares in size and about a kilometre away from the community as of Thursday. Trains to and from Pukatawagan were already not running because of the fire threat. Constant said the call for help from other levels of government went out "days ago, while we had an airstrip." WATCH | Coun. Connie Constant's plea: "Canada, don't wait until we start losing lives," she said. "We matter. Our people matter. So we're trying. If you look at the map, we're in a peninsula. We got nowhere to go." Pukatawagan is about 700 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. Manitoba Hydro said Thursday evening the community was without power because of fire-related damage, adding that there were several burned poles in Pukatawagan, but the full extent of the damage is unknown. Linklater said the community has been without power for three days, and the restoration could take at least a month. 'It was very scary' People in the First Nation of about 3,000 residents said the situation in the community was hectic and scary as the smoke began moving toward them on Thursday. Serena Moore, who lives about a 15-minute drive away from the airport, said 28 people were staying at her home that night. Moore said she went outside her home that evening after she heard what sounded like an explosion. "There was a lot of things falling from the sky," she said. "I didn't know what it was until I turned my light on on my camera and I'd seen the ashes, and it was very scary." Rose Linklater said the neighbourhoods closer to the airport were evacuated overnight Thursday into early Friday morning. She and her family — including her five grandchildren, the youngest eight months old — were told at around 3 a.m. they had to go. "I don't think most of anybody slept in the community," she said. "Everybody was in panic mode. Like, people were getting their boats ready, canoes, whatever, and there was really nothing that we can do to get out." Moore was also evacuated at around 4 a.m. "We're waiting to be told when we can leave," she said. "But there are so many people at the youth centre trying to get out and we just see two or three helicopters coming in at a time." Premier calls for calm A Friday afternoon provincial fire bulletin said the federal government and the Canadian Armed Forces are working to support Pukatawagan, "but conditions are very smoky." Before the Pukatawagan news conference, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said the Canadian Armed Forces was using helicopters to do reconnaissance in the area as of Friday morning. Aircraft have been taking residents to The Pas for medical attention if needed, Kinew said at a separate news conference. As a precaution, the town's hospital is under a code orange, meaning preparing for a mass casualty or disaster event, he said. WATCH | More evacuations expected, premier says: "I think the most important thing for Manitobans to understand is that we need to be calm," the premier said when asked to address criticisms by First Nations leadership that the province's wildfire response has been poorly communicated. "With transportation, the Canadian Armed Forces is in the business of meticulous planning before they deploy aircraft or before they deploy their troops," Kinew said. "I understand how Manitobans might look at a given situation and have questions. But I'm here to reassure you and tell you that you have the best people leading the response." Constant said the community needs more. "I don't even like the words 'to be patient,'" she said. "We can't be patient. We need action. We need action now." Multiple agencies are working to respond to the fire, the latest provincial fire bulletin said. On Friday evening, the Prime Minister's Office issued a news release saying Prime Minister Mark Carney had convened an incident response group to address wildfires in Western Canada and other parts of the country. The group comprising ministers and senior officials had been briefed on the mobilization of Canadian Forces personnel to support air evacuations in Manitoba, "notably in the community of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation." "Various arms of the federal government are working with premiers and the Canadian Armed Forces. All orders of government are engaged, including with Indigenous leadership," it said. The PMO said the federal government is also partnering with the Canadian Red Cross to match donations. Are you an evacuee who needs assistance? Contact Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or email 211mb@
