Latest news with #Manitoba
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Military aircraft evacuates residents from fast-moving Manitoba fire
A military aircraft and helicopters are being used to evacuate residents in the Canadian province of Manitoba from fast-moving wildfires. Thousands have already evacuated western Canada, particularly the central prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as firefighters face growing flames and hot, dry weather predictions in the coming days. Dense smoke from the fires - of which there are more than 180 according to officials - has spread across Canada and into parts of the US. Both Saskatchewan and Manitoba have declared states of emergency for the next month and asked for international help in fighting the fires. Large parts of Alberta and British Columbia have also ordered evacuations as the fires spread. The evacuation of residents of the northern First Nations community of Pukatawagan, is a "rapidly evolving situation", a Manitoba official told the BBC. Canadian Armed Forces, Manitoba Wildfire Service and Manitoba's Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team have been using a military aircraft and helicopters to bring people to safety from the northern community in Manitoba. As of Friday, more than 2,000 people still needed to be transported out of Pukatawagan. In Flin Flon, a city of 5,000 in Manitoba, only firefighters and support workers are left in the town. In Manitoba, there are a total of 25 fires burning, according to the province's fire situation report, with 10 classified as out of control. While Manitoba is facing the harshest conditions, other provinces are also dealing with worsening wildfires. In Saskatchewan, there are 16 wildfires burning as of Saturday, with seven classified as not contained. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) classified conditions in the province as extreme. Danielle Desjardins, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada based in Winnipeg, told the BBC that the forecast for both provinces is not promising. While a cold front is expected to hit some parts of Saskatchewan, it will not bring relief to the regions where fires are burning. "The bad news about this cold front is it's going to be windy," said Ms Desjardins, adding that the wind, coupled with the heat and lack of rain, are prime conditions for wildfire spread. Smoke from the fires has also left an estimated 22 million Americans under air quality this weekend. Michigan and Wisconsin advisories are currently in place. In northern Minnesota, residents have been warned smoke could reach levels "unhealthy for everyone", while the rest of the state faces air quality warnings for sensitive groups. That alert runs through Monday evening. Canada experienced its worst wildfire season on record in 2023, when more than 42 million acres (17.3m hectares) burned. Fires happen naturally in many parts of the world, including in Canada. But climate change is making the weather conditions needed for wildfires to spread more likely, according to the UN's climate body. Extreme and long-lasting heat draws more and more moisture out of the ground and vegetation. More hot, dry weather forecast as Canada battles wildfires Four ways climate change worsens extreme weather
CBC
an hour ago
- General
- CBC
Motorcyclists rev up their bikes in annual ride to raise funds for prostate cancer research
Hundreds of riders took to the streets of Winnipeg on Saturday for the annual Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad, hoping to beat last year's record for money raised toward prostate cancer research and awareness. The 17th annual event began at Polo Park shopping centre before heading west along Portage Avenue to Assiniboia Downs. Riders planned to continue through the communities of Selkirk and Gimli before returning to the finish line in Winnipeg. The event is part of a six-week campaign to spread awareness and education about prostate cancer in the province. Last year, teams raised a record-breaking $650,000 for cancer research. "It's simply amazing. It just blows me away. This ride has never ceased to amaze me," said spokesperson Ed Johner, who survived prostate cancer himself but lost his father and uncle to the disease. "The generosity of Manitobans and the hard work and the effort — like our entire executive, our volunteers, our pledged donors, the riders, you know, our corporate sponsors — it's incredible what we've accomplished." Johner was diagnosed with prostate and kidney cancer after a routine exam ahead of cataract surgery in 2007, when he was 49. He said he had no symptoms at the time, crediting the proactive check to a diligent physician. He's been cancer-free since surgery to remove his prostate and a third of his kidney. The ride organizer said he hears stories about early detection from other men throughout the ride, but on other days, too. "The ones that stick out the most are having perfect strangers walk up to me and shake my hand and thank me for saving their life. And I know what's happened to other guys on our executives, too. Those are the ones that stick with you," Johner told The Weekend Morning Show host Nadia Kidwai 'Emotional experience' "It's a very emotional experience to have this happen … early detection is so critical, just so critical." Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian men, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. The organization estimates one in eight Canadian men will develop the cancer at some point during their lifetime and that one in 30 will lose his life. Dr. Laurence Klotz, a urologic oncologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and chair of prostate cancer research at the Toronto hospital, said patients with metastatic prostate cancer — meaning it's spread to other parts of the body — live "roughly twice as long now as they did 10 or 15 years ago, which is really a significant achievement." "The disease can be controlled, often for a long time — but a cure is generally not in the cards," Klotz told Dr. Brian Goldman, host of the CBC podcast The Dose.
CTV News
an hour ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Air quality alert in effect for majority of Manitoba
A haze covering Winnipeg taken on May 31, 2025. (Gary Robson/CTV News Winnipeg) Wildfire smoke has prompted Environment Canada to issue air quality alerts for the majority of Manitoba, with smoke causing or expected to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility. As of Saturday morning, nearly 20 locations in the province are under an air quality warning which includes communities such as Flin Flon and Bissett that have been ordered to evacuate due to wildfire danger. 'Warm and dry conditions continue support wildfire activity this weekend,' states the air quality warning. 'The smoke will linger for a prolonged period near the source region of the fires.' Residents impacted by the air quality warning are advised to limit time outdoors and cancel outdoor activities. Environment Canada states that everyone's health is at risk during heavy smoke conditions, regardless of age or health status. As of 10 a.m. on Saturday, the air quality health index in Brandon indicates a very high health risk (10+). In Winnipeg, Saturday morning's air quality health index is 3, though the forecast maximum for Saturday and Sunday indicates that a very high health risk (10+) is possible. The last air quality health index available for Flin Flon, a city of roughly 5,000 that was placed under evacuation last Wednesday, reported a high health risk (9) last night.
BBC News
an hour ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Military aircraft evacuates residents from Canada wildfire
A military aircraft and helicopters are being used to evacuate residents in the Canadian province of Manitoba from fast-moving have already evacuated western Canada, particularly the central prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as firefighters face growing flames and hot, dry weather predictions in the coming days. Dense smoke from the fires - of which there are more than 180 according to officials - has spread across Canada and into parts of the US. Both Saskatchewan and Manitoba have declared states of emergency for the next month and asked for international help in fighting the fires. Large parts of Alberta and British Columbia have also ordered evacuations as the fires spread. The evacuation of residents of the northern First Nations community of Pukatawagan, is a "rapidly evolving situation", a Manitoba official told the BBC. Canadian Armed Forces, Manitoba Wildfire Service and Manitoba's Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team have been using a military aircraft and helicopters to bring people to safety from the northern community in Manitoba. As of Friday, more than 2,000 people still needed to be transported out of Pukatawagan. In Flin Flon, a city of 5,000 in Manitoba, only firefighters and support workers are left in the town. In Manitoba, there are a total of 25 fires burning, according to the province's fire situation report, with 10 classified as out of Manitoba is facing the harshest conditions, other provinces are also dealing with worsening wildfires. In Saskatchewan, there are 16 wildfires burning as of Saturday, with seven classified as not contained. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) classified conditions in the province as Desjardins, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada based in Winnipeg, told the BBC that the forecast for both provinces is not a cold front is expected to hit some parts of Saskatchewan, it will not bring relief to the regions where fires are burning. "The bad news about this cold front is it's going to be windy," said Ms Desjardins, adding that the wind, coupled with the heat and lack of rain, are prime conditions for wildfire from the fires has also left an estimated 22 million Americans under air quality this weekend. Michigan and Wisconsin advisories are currently in place. In northern Minnesota, residents have been warned smoke could reach levels "unhealthy for everyone", while the rest of the state faces air quality warnings for sensitive groups. That alert runs through Monday experienced its worst wildfire season on record in 2023, when more than 42 million acres (17.3m hectares) burned. Fires happen naturally in many parts of the world, including in climate change is making the weather conditions needed for wildfires to spread more likely, according to the UN's climate and long-lasting heat draws more and more moisture out of the ground and vegetation.
CBC
2 hours ago
- Climate
- CBC
Residents forced out of Cranberry Portage after wildfires knock power, close highway, cripple air quality
Hundreds of people are being forced out of their homes in the northwestern Manitoba community of Cranberry Portage after a wildfire knocked out power overnight. The entire population of Cranberry Portage should evacuate by 3 p.m. on Saturday and go to Winnipeg, said Lori Forbes, the municipal emergency co-ordinator for the Rural Municipality of Kelsey, which includes the community. Cranberry Portage, about 600 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, was put under a voluntary evacuation order earlier this week after supplies and gas started to run out. Wildfires also closed down a stretch of Highway 10 — the main access route for the community. The situation worsened after several hydro poles were burned, leaving the community without power on Friday. Forbes said the longer the electricity is out the greater the risk operations at the water treatment and sewage plants might be compromised. "The decision is made based on general services human beings need to be healthy," she said. Manitoba Hydro said the extent of damage to power infrastructure is unknown at this time. The R.M. of Kelsey said the community might be without electricity for several days. At least 430 people are believed to be in Cranberry Portage, Forbes said, but the number can be as high as 600 given there's a number of cottagers and seasonal visitors this time of the year. Before the mandatory evacuation was declared, 87 people who left from their homes had registered with the R.M., Forbes said. Evacuees from Cranberry Portage are being asked to make their way out using Highways 39 and 6 to Winnipeg's Billy Mosienko Arena at 709 Keewatin Street. "We need people to get up and move, to be safe and out of the dangers up here right now," she said. Another consideration for the mandatory evacuation is the smoke billowing from a wildfire burning about 35 kilometres northwest Cranberry Portage. Forbes said heavy plumes are choking the air with heavy plumes of smoke crippling air quality. That wildfire prompted the mandatory evacuation of Flin Flon earlier this week, forcing its roughly 5,000 residents out of their homes. The blaze was 40,000 hectares in size and less than 400 metres from the edge of the city by Friday.
