Latest news with #LynnLake
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Nearby wildfire prompts Thompson to declare state of local emergency
A wildfire is seen burning near Lynn Lake, Man. in July 2025. (Maggie Braido) A wildfire is currently burning near the largest city in northern Manitoba, as firefighters continue to deal with a busy fire season in the province. The City of Thompson declared a local state of emergency on Monday, as a wildfire is currently burning 15 kilometres north of the city. There are 81 active wildfires burning in Manitoba as of Monday and 235 fires this year. Of those fires, Kristin Hayward with Manitoba Wildfire Service said that 16 are threatening or have the potential to threaten communities. Hayward notes the fire near Thompson is 6,000 hectares in size. 'Crews are working to establish fire guards in key areas and are setting up value protection on assets, including the airport,' she said. Despite the state of emergency and the wildfire threat, an evacuation of the community is not expected imminently. 'Based on the current conditions, the work that we're doing, and the forecasted conditions, we don't expect Thompson to be in immediate danger for the next couple of days at least,' Hayward said. Lynn Lake and Leaf Rapids have both announced evacuations in recent days. The fire near Leaf Rapids is approximately 14 kilometres from the community and is over 5,100 hectares in size. 'The fire has been less active in recent days due to precipitation in that area, but it is expected to pick back up as warmer and drier conditions return,' Hayward said. A second fire burning near Leaf Rapids is 2,000 hectares in size and has the potential to impact the community's hydro transmission. Two fires are burning near Lynn Lake. One is over 80,000 hectares, and a second fire is 5,600 hectares and threatening the Manitoba Hydro transmission. The province also confirmed seven homes were destroyed in Tataskweyak Cree Nation over the weekend. There are 141 personnel from other jurisdictions assisting with the wildfire fight in Manitoba, Hayward said. Christine Stevens with the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization said seven communities—Lynn Lake, Leaf Rapids, the Wallace Cottage Association , Marcel Colomb First Nation, Mathias Columb First Nation, Tataskweyak and parts of Nopiming—have evacuated due to wildfires.
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Lynn Lake mayor calling for resources as wildfire threatens community
Lynn Lake Mayor Brandon Dulewich shares how the latest wildfire evacuation unfolded and the toll on residents. The mayor of Lynn Lake, Man., says the community is in need of more firefighting resources as a wildfire threatens the area. On Monday, Mayor Brandon Dulewich said only essential staff and firefighters remain in town. He added that though several crews are expected to leave on Tuesday, there aren't many resources coming in as a replacement. 'It's not reassuring news,' he said in an interview with CTV Morning Live. Dulewich is now asking the government for 'any and all help,' noting that Lynn Lake may not have the resources to tackle any new fires. 'We had some lightning last night. I can only anticipate some new starts out of that,' he said. 'This fire that we're dealing with now… It is a new start that happened, I think, five days ago, but it's something we didn't anticipate.' This news comes days after Lynn Lake residents were forced to evacuate for the second time this year as a wildfire threatened Manitoba Hydro transmission lines. As of Monday morning, the fire had burned through one of the transmission line poles, but the town has not lost power. 'We're hoping this morning they can get out and actually assess the line and see what kind of damage is actually there,' Dulewich said. The mayor added that the mood around the town was low as residents fled last week, though the evacuation process went more smoothly the second time around. 'Speaking with the residents, it sounds like this second evacuation was handled much better than the first, and the living conditions for people are leaps and bounds above the first time,' he said. Dulewich said crews are currently prepared for the fire to enter the town as they've staged fire trucks in strategic locations around the community. 'Looks like Wednesday the wind is going to have a pretty strong push into town,' he said. 'It will be a day that will definitely test what we've set up in town.' • With files from CTV's Rachel Lagacé.
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Manitoba to give update on wildfire situation following evacuations
Lynn Lake Mayor Brandon Dulewich shares how the latest wildfire evacuation unfolded and the toll on residents. The Manitoba government will give an update on the current wildfire situation in the province on Monday afternoon. Kristin Hayward with Manitoba Wildfire Service and Christine Stevens with the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization will speak to media at 12:45 p.m. CTV News will live-stream the conference. This update comes after seven homes were destroyed in Tataskweyak Cree Nation over the weekend, and Lynn Lake announced a mandatory evacuation of the community Friday as a wildfire threatened the town's power supply. According to the Manitoba fire bulletin released Friday, there are 64 active wildfires burning in Manitoba. This is a developing story. More details to come.
CTV News
06-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Seven homes destroyed by fire on Manitoba First Nation, community's leadership says
A helicopter crew works on a wildfire in northern Manitoba during a helicopter tour in the surrounding area of Flin Flon, Man. on Thursday, June 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mike Deal-Pool SPLIT LAKE — A wildfire in northern Manitoba has destroyed seven homes in a day the chief and council of the local First Nation are calling 'horrendous.' Officials of Tataskweyak Cree Nation say in a Facebook post that a fire that ignited northwest of the community on Friday was fanned by strong winds, and that approximately 175 residents have been evacuated east to Gillam, Man. Tataskweyak was evacuated earlier in the fire season and had lifted the order in mid-June, but then had to push back the date when people could return due to problems with its water system. It's not the only Manitoba community facing another evacuation — 600 residents of Lynn Lake have also been ordered out of their community for the second time this year due to wildfires after town officials said a fire was threatening Manitoba Hydro transmission line. A large fire near Tataskweyak has been burning since late May and has been listed as out-of-control by Manitoba's Natural Resources department for most of the time since then. It briefly changed to being held for a few days at the end of June before switching back to out-of-control. 'Yesterday, was an absolutely horrendous day,' the Facebook post from the chief and council of Tataskweyak Cree Nation on Saturday said, noting that seven homes were destroyed. 'To the families that lost their homes … we understand being away, and finding out you no longer have a home is absolutely heartbreaking. We have no other words to say, but we will be here, to offer you support in any way we can.' Chief Doreen Spence livestreamed video on Saturday afternoon from a helicopter over the blaze. The video showed numerous smoke plumes, large and small. The order to flee came suddenly. Spence posted a video Friday updating residents about water testing, when she noted that flames had jumped the fire line and strong winds were blowing the fire towards the community. 'If results are in our favour, then you guys will return home,' Spence said about the water testing. Not long after, she posted videos of smoke, and told people that the community's leadership had been told everybody had to leave. 'Gas up, pack your stuff, go to the band hall, or if you need a ride, you can message myself. The RCMP are knocking on doors here again, to make sure everybody is out of their homes,' she said in a later video. Manitoba has been experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons in recent years, and about 21,000 people were forced to flee their homes in June. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2025. The Canadian Press
CTV News
05-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Wildfire threatening Lynn Lake power supply
Residents of Lynn Lake have evacuated for the second time this summer as a wildfire threatens the town's power supply. Daniel Halmarson reports.
