Latest news with #Kinew
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flin Flon, Man., virtually deserted, thousands more evacuees expected as fires rage
WINNIPEG — Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says thousands more evacuees are expected and the city of Flin Flon is virtually deserted as wildfires continue to rage in his province. Kinew told a Friday news conference that the mayor, councillors, health-care staff and other officials have had to depart Flin Flon. "The only folks remaining on the ground are firefighters and folks in the office of the fire commissioner and RCMP, who are there to battle the blaze," Kinew said. "We do expect some very, very challenging conditions in Flin Flon and in the surrounding community." He added, "Pray for rain." The evacuees are among 17,000 people reported so far to be out of their homes due to a number of wildfires burning in remote regions from Manitoba's northwest to the southeast. 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. He said Canadian Armed Forces personnel are flying out evacuees from the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, north of Flin Flon. He said the airport near Mathias Colomb, also known as Pukatawagan, has not been damaged by the fire. Prime Minister Mark Carney convened the incident response group on Friday to address the wildfire situation in Western Canada and elsewhere in the country. The group, consisting of senior ministers and officials, was briefed on the federal government's efforts to support affected communities, including the evacuation at Mathias Colomb, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement Friday evening. "The prime minister has been in close contact with the premiers of Manitoba and Saskatchewan," the statement said. "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." However, the head of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said the situation is becoming dire and they are being kept in the dark on what's to be done. 'Nobody is communicating with us. Nobody is communicating with our leadership,' Grand Chief Kyra Wilson told a news conference in Winnipeg earlier Friday. 'We have people that are waiting to be evacuated. She said communities are asking for firefighting equipment, including water pumps and hoses, but getting only vague assurances that it's on the way. 'We have communities that have no electricity,' she added. 'They have no water. They're running out of fuel, running out food.' In an emailed statement, the office of National Defence Minister David McGuinty said flights and crews are on scene to get everyone out as quickly as possible. 'RCAF aircraft departed Winnipeg and Trenton this morning to conduct air evacuation,' said the statement. 'The CAF is also deploying liaison and co-ordination personnel to support the local incident command post, including assistance with airstrip deconfliction and management to ensure the safe and efficient flow of evacuation flights.' 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. All residents, along with 1,000 more in the surrounding area, have had to leave. "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." Winnipeg has opened up public buildings for evacuees as it deals with hotels already crammed with other fire refugees, vacationers, business people and conventiongoers. The province declared a provincewide state of emergency this week to help various levels of government coordinate a response. The fire menacing Flin Flon began Monday near Creighton, Sask., and quickly jumped the boundary into Manitoba. It has grown rapidly and as of early Friday stood at 380 square kilometres. Crews have struggled to contain it. Water bombers have been intermittently grounded due to heavy smoke and a drone incursion. The 1,200 or so residents of Creighton have also been ordered out, many of whom have gone to nearby Nipawin, Sask. In total, more than 8,000 people have fled wildfires in Saskatchewan. Steve Roberts from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency told reporters Friday winds have pushed wildfires significant distances. The fire near Creighton and Flin Flon is moving towards those communities, and crews are preparing to put up barriers should flames get to the outskirts, he said. Officials also said multiple structures have been lost in a fire near East Trout Lake, but exact numbers aren't known. Winds are expected to shift, said the agency's Marlo Pritchard. "A lot of the smoke that has been sitting for the last day or so will be moving south," he said. "In the next 24 to 48 hours, the communities in the south of the province will experience extreme smoke conditions." Roberts said a separate fire has reached just outside Pelican Narrows, about 510 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. Meanwhile, Alberta, which has taken the brunt of wildfire damage in recent years, has been comparatively better off. But the 1,300 residents of Swan Hills, northwest of Edmonton, have been ordered out, as have the 900 residents of Chateh in the northwestern corner of the province. Firefighters battling a blaze near Chipewyan Lake, Alta., lost radio contact late Thursday and were forced to take shelter at the local fire hall and school. Alberta Forestry Minister Todd Loewen, on social media, said smoke has stymied attempts to get them out. He also said some structures have been damaged by the fire, but it's unclear how badly they were hit. — By Jeremy Simes in Regina and Aaron Sousa in Edmonton, with files from Matthew Scace in Calgary. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025. The Canadian Press
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfires have forced thousands to flee communities across parts of Canada — see photos of the 'challenging' emergency
Wildfires have been burning out of control in parts of Canada, threatening several communities and forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes. The conditions are so severe that Manitoba and Saskatchewan have declared states of emergency. According to Environment Canada's data on May 30, "extreme" conditions — the highest level — are also being seen in parts of Alberta, northeastern British Columbia, the southern parts of the territories and western Ontario. The poor conditions are also posing a threat to northern states in the U.S.; North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and states around the Great Lakes are expected to get the highest smoke concentrations over the next few days. "As we head into the weekend, pray for rain," Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said at a Friday press conference. "We haven't seen rain in the forecast yet. That could really help — sustained rainfall, in particular. But in the absence of that, the past few days have been very challenging, and that may continue." When Kinew ordered a provincewide state of emergency on Wednesday, telling reporters this is "the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most people's living memory." The press conference came after roughly 17,000 residents were evacuated from the affected areas. That includes the entire town of Flin Flon, an area of around 5,000 residents. "The only folks remaining on the ground are firefighters and folks in the office of the fire commissioner and RCMP, who are there to battle the blaze," Kinew said Friday. "We do expect some very, very challenging conditions in Flin Flon and in the surrounding community." Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe declared a state of emergency Thursday: "It's a very serious situation that we're faced with," he said at a Prince Albert press conference, adding the province also needs to see some rain. Thousands have already evacuated their homes in the province. Below, see some of the most eye-widening photos from the incident that's ravaging parts of Western and Central Canada. Smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets much of central North America. — CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) May 30, 2025 Wildfires in Manitoba, Canada have triggered the evacuation of over 17,000 people. These aerial shots are unbelievable. — Met4Cast. (@Met4CastUK) May 29, 2025 smoke from Canadian wildfires — ian (@bigseawaterite) May 30, 2025 The Canada wildfire smoke has arrived. Grass got tough fast. — Maria Cox (@MariaCoxFarm) May 31, 2025
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfires have forced thousands to flee communities across parts of Canada — see photos of the 'challenging' emergency
Wildfires have been burning out of control in parts of Canada, threatening several communities and forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes. The conditions are so severe that Manitoba and Saskatchewan have declared states of emergency. According to Environment Canada's data on May 30, "extreme" conditions — the highest level — are also being seen in parts of Alberta, northeastern British Columbia, the southern parts of the territories and western Ontario. The poor conditions are also posing a threat to northern states in the U.S.; North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and states around the Great Lakes are expected to get the highest smoke concentrations over the next few days. "As we head into the weekend, pray for rain," Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said at a Friday press conference. "We haven't seen rain in the forecast yet. That could really help — sustained rainfall, in particular. But in the absence of that, the past few days have been very challenging, and that may continue." When Kinew ordered a provincewide state of emergency on Wednesday, telling reporters this is "the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most people's living memory." The press conference came after roughly 17,000 residents were evacuated from the affected areas. That includes the entire town of Flin Flon, an area of around 5,000 residents. "The only folks remaining on the ground are firefighters and folks in the office of the fire commissioner and RCMP, who are there to battle the blaze," Kinew said Friday. "We do expect some very, very challenging conditions in Flin Flon and in the surrounding community." Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe declared a state of emergency Thursday: "It's a very serious situation that we're faced with," he said at a Prince Albert press conference, adding the province also needs to see some rain. Thousands have already evacuated their homes in the province. Below, see some of the most eye-widening photos from the incident that's ravaging parts of Western and Central Canada. Smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets much of central North America. — CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) May 30, 2025 Wildfires in Manitoba, Canada have triggered the evacuation of over 17,000 people. These aerial shots are unbelievable. — Met4Cast. (@Met4CastUK) May 29, 2025 smoke from Canadian wildfires — ian (@bigseawaterite) May 30, 2025 The Canada wildfire smoke has arrived. Grass got tough fast. — Maria Cox (@MariaCoxFarm) May 31, 2025
Winnipeg Free Press
16 hours ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Immediate support offered to evacuees: Kinew
As 17,000 Manitobans flee for their lives with little more than the shirts on their backs, some take shelter in hotels and motels, arenas or with family and friends. Where they end up depends on what they need, Premier Wab Kinew said Friday. 'The first principle is that this is one Manitoba,' Kinew said at a wildfire briefing Friday as the threat worsened. The province offered Emergency Social Services support for the mandatory evacuees right away rather than expecting municipalities or local authorities to support their residents for a minimum 72 hours, as guidelines dictate. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS 'It's important that people register as an evacuee if they have been told to leave their community,' Premier Wab Kinew said Friday. 'Given the scale of the situation here, the department of families has decided to waive 72-hour period, and we're going to help people immediately,' Kinew told the legislative assembly on Thursday. Emergency Social Services are provided on a short-term basis 'to preserve the emotional and physical well-being of evacuees and response workers in emergency situations.' The province's first priority is to ensure accommodations and food are provided to people fleeing a disaster. For those who don't stay with family and friends, staff are focused on accommodations in congregate facilities where food and shelter is provided, a spokesman for the provincial government said Friday. 'Many evacuees have already been receiving support, and as people register, the province is working with the Canadian Red Cross to ensure everyone receives supports,' he said without providing numbers or details. 'It's important that people register as an evacuee if they have been told to leave their community.' They can register online or at a reception centre. 'The reception centre I was at (Thursday) had folks who were coming from the city of Flin Flon but also Pukatawagan Cree Nation,' the premier said Friday. People from First Nations would get federal support and others, including Flin Flon residents, would get provincial support, Kinew said. Sent weekly from the heart of Turtle Island, an exploration of Indigenous voices, perspectives and experiences. 'There's just one desk where people are checking in, getting registered and getting assigned supports. When we get to who's staying with friends and family that's effectively self-selected.' He said a lot evacuees are going to head to congregate shelters. 'The hotel rooms in the province are very, very hard to come by right now and that's because of the previous evacuations, because of other folks just having their business conferences, vacations,' the premier said. 'Where we do have access to hotel rooms is being prioritized for medical patients and (those with) accessibility issues and for who staying in a cot in a congregate setting might be a challenge.' Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
San Francisco Chronicle
16 hours ago
- Climate
- San Francisco Chronicle
A Canadian prairie city virtually deserted as fires rage and thousands more evacuees expected
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — The Canadian prairie city of Flin Flon was virtually deserted and more evacuees were expected, Manitoba's premier said Friday, as wildfires raged in the province. Premier Wab Kinew told a news conference that the mayor, councilors, health-care staff and other officials have had to depart Flin Flon, a city of 5,000 people. 'The only folks remaining on the ground are firefighters and folks in the office of the fire commissioner and RCMP, who are there to battle the blaze,' Kinew said. 'We do expect some very, very challenging conditions in Flin Flon and in the surrounding community.' He added: 'Pray for rain.' The evacuees are among 17,000 people reported so far to have left their homes due to a number of wildfires burning in remote regions from Manitoba's northwest to the southeast. 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 outside help has arrived, including 125 firefighters from the United States. He said Canadian Armed Forces personnel are flying out evacuees from the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, north of Flin Flon. Kinew said the airport near Mathias Colomb, also known as Pukatawagan, has not been damaged by the fire. Earlier on Friday, Flin Flon Mayor George Fontaine said fierce winds were threatening to breach the city limits and begin burning structures in the city located nearly 400 miles (645 kilometers) northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg. All residents, along with 1,000 more in the surrounding area, have had to leave. 'Unless we get one heck of a boost, (the fire) is projected to take chunks out of our town and surrounding areas,' Fontaine said. 'It's looking very ugly right now. 'We're begging for air support (to help douse the fire). It's really crucial,' he said. Winnipeg has opened up public buildings for evacuees as it deals with hotels already crammed with other fire refugees, vacationers, business people and conventiongoers. The province declared a province-wide state of emergency this week to help various levels of government coordinate a response. The fire menacing Flin Flon began Monday near Creighton, Saskatchewan, and quickly jumped the boundary into Manitoba. Crews have struggled to contain it. Water bombers have been intermittently grounded due to heavy smoke and a drone incursion. The 1,200 or so residents of Creighton have also been ordered out, many of whom have gone to nearby Nipawin, Saskatchewan. In total, more than 8,000 people have fled wildfires in Saskatchewan. Canada's wildfire season runs from May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months.
