Latest news with #ManitobaParks
CBC
30-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Hiking trails closed in all Manitoba provincial parks, camping restricted as wildfires spread
As of Friday, hiking trails in all 93 of Manitoba's provincial parks are closed, the province says, as part of travel restrictions imposed as fire danger remains high and human activity continues to "significantly contribute" to the current wildfire situation in the province. Similar travel and fire restrictions were already in place for parks in Manitoba's east, where wildfires burned out of control through Whitshell and Nopiming provincial parks. The measures are now being extended to parks throughout the province, a spokesperson for the province said. Manigotagan River, Nopiming, South Atikaki and Wallace Lake provincial parks are now closed entirely, while Bakers Narrows and Whiteshell are partially open, the province said in its Thursday fire bulletin. In all provincial parks that are open, camping is restricted to developed campgrounds, meaning no backcountry camping. Watercraft activity, including canoes and kayaks, is restricted to front-country lakes, meaning any that are road-accessible, the provincial spokesperson said. Launching at shorelines and portaging to backcountry lakes is no longer allowed. Lodge access is permitted at main lodges, but access to outcamps, outfitters and commercial operations in backcountry areas is limited to those with a permit. A permit is also required to access industrial operations through any non-designated or unrecognized road. The province said those will be issued at the discretion of the local conservation officer. Aircraft use is permitted on lakes that have developed docks or shorelines. Commercial fishing can continue, the province said. All burn permits are cancelled and no new ones will be issued at this time, the province said. Burning exceptions for industry and agricultural purposes can be made with inspections from an officer.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Pointe du Bois reopens after 'more progress' controlling wildfires around Whiteshell
A section in the northwest corner of Whiteshell Provincial Park has reopened to the public after the province says there has been "more progress" in battling out-of-control wildfires. Permanent residents, cottagers, commercial operators and visitors are allowed back into Pointe du Bois as of Sunday morning, the province said in its latest fire bulletin. The area, roughly 120 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, had been under a mandatory evacuation order for almost two weeks after extreme fire conditions from out-of-control wildfires encroaching on the park forced its closure to the public. The province reopened the first pockets of the Whiteshell on Thursday, including Sylvia Lake, Eleanor Lake, Dorothy Lake, Otter Falls, Barrier Bay, Nutimik Lake and Betula Lake on the west side of the park. Those returning to the park "must be prepared to evacuate with little notice," the bulletin said. Manitoba Parks says "more progress has been made" to control the blazes, but the wildfires are still large, complex and expected to remain active. Weather forecasts are also not favourable with warm, dry conditions and no rain in the week ahead, the province said. "Many Manitobans are eager to return to the parks that remain closed, but public safety remains the top priority," the bulletin said. As of Friday, the largest fire encroaching on the park stretches over 101,000 hectares north of the Whiteshell in Nopiming Provincial Park. A wildfire is also burning at the Manitoba-Ontario border, near Ingolf, reaching a total 32,000 hectares in size, with about 1,650 hectares on the Manitoba side as of Friday. "Restrictions and closures remain in place for everyone's safety and allows fire crews and emergency responders space to do their work," the province said. The majority of the Whiteshell remains under a mandatory evacuation order. The campgrounds in the provincial park remain closed to limit overnight guests, hiking trails are closed and backcountry travel is prohibited. The province is asking for patience and cooperation as the situation continues to unfold.
CBC
25-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Pointe du Bois reopens after 'more progress' controlling wildfires around Whiteshell
A section in the northwest corner of Whiteshell Provincial Park has reopened to the public after the province says there has been "more progress" in battling out-of-control wildfires. Permanent residents, cottagers, commercial operators and visitors are allowed back into Pointe du Bois as of Sunday morning, the province said in its latest fire bulletin. The area, roughly 120 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, had been under a mandatory evacuation order for almost two weeks after extreme fire conditions from out-of-control wildfires encroaching on the park forced its closure to the public. The province reopened the first pockets of the Whiteshell on Thursday, including Sylvia Lake, Eleanor Lake, Dorothy Lake, Otter Falls, Barrier Bay, Nutimik Lake and Betula Lake on the west side of the park. Those returning to the park "must be prepared to evacuate with little notice," the bulletin said. Manitoba Parks says "more progress has been made" to control the blazes, but the wildfires are still large, complex and expected to remain active. Weather forecasts are also not favourable with warm, dry conditions and no rain in the week ahead, the province said. "Many Manitobans are eager to return to the parks that remain closed, but public safety remains the top priority," the bulletin said. As of Friday, the largest fire encroaching on the park stretches over 101,000 hectares north of the Whiteshell in Nopiming Provincial Park. A wildfire is also burning at the Manitoba-Ontario border, near Ingolf, reaching a total 32,000 hectares in size, with about 1,650 hectares on the Manitoba side as of Friday. "Restrictions and closures remain in place for everyone's safety and allows fire crews and emergency responders space to do their work," the province said. The majority of the Whiteshell remains under a mandatory evacuation order. The campgrounds in the provincial park remain closed to limit overnight guests, hiking trails are closed and backcountry travel is prohibited. The province is asking for patience and cooperation as the situation continues to unfold.
CTV News
15-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Whitehsell Provincial Park closing due to extreme fire conditions
Michelle Gerwing has details on some of the most complex and volatile fires burning in Manitoba. Michelle Gerwing has details on some of the most complex and volatile fires burning in Manitoba. Where the biggest wildfires are burning in Manitoba The Manitoba government is closing Whitehsell Provincial Park on Thursday morning amid extreme fire conditions in eastern Manitoba. In its latest fire bulletin, the province said access to the provincial park will be restricted as of 9 a.m. on Thursday. This includes all public and private developed areas, such as cottage subdivisions, commercial areas, campgrounds, group use and day use areas, trails, beaches, canoe routes and campsites. The province adds that all park users, including full-time residents, commercial operators and cottagers, must be out of the park by 1 p.m. on Thursday. Full-time residents, not including cottagers or campers, are asked to register with Manitoba Parks staff beginning at 9 a.m. at either Whiteshell Community Club, Rennie Community Club or Eastman Snopals Garage. Those who can't register in person can call 204-340-6769. The government notes Whitehsell Provincial Park will remain closed until fire conditions improve, while its campgrounds will remain closed until at least Wednesday, May 21. Staff with the Parks Reservation Service will be in touch with all affected reservation holders.
CBC
14-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Whiteshell Provincial Park closing due to extreme fire conditions
Whiteshell Provincial Park will close to the public on Thursday as firefighters work to control a wildfire that forced evacuations in the southeastern Manitoba area earlier this week. In a Wednesday news release, the province said access to the park will be restricted starting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, and continuing until at least May 21. The closure is expected to remain in effect until the extreme fire conditions improve. On Thursday morning, access will be restricted to cottage subdivisions and campgrounds, along with commercial, group and day use areas. Recreational areas including trails, beaches, backcountry areas, canoe routes and campsites will also be under the restricted access. All park users, including full-time residents and cottagers, must leave the park by 1 p.m. Thursday, the province said. It's asking full-time residents to register with Manitoba Parks staff at their nearest reception centre: Whiteshell Community Club, Rennie Community Club or Eastman Snopals Garage. Any permanent residents who can't register in person can call 204-340-6769. Cottagers and campers are not required to register. Anyone with reservations over this period, which includes the Victoria Day long weekend, will be contacted by the parks reservation service, the province said. Cottagers fled the area Tuesday after the province issued an evacuation order due to the out-of-control wildfire along the Ontario border, near Ingolf. As of Thursday afternoon, that fire had grown to more than 23,000 hectares, according to the province of Ontario's fire map. The province of Manitoba told CBC News Wednesday that Highway 1 remains open in the area. Previously announced closures remain in effect for Nopiming, Pinawa Dam, Poplar Bay, Wallace Lake, South Atikaki and Manigotagan River provincial parks due to local states of emergency, the province said. These parks will also remain closed until conditions improve.
