Latest news with #NisichawayasihkCreeNation
CTV News
5 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Manitoba wildfire season worst in 30 years: province
CTV's Danton Unger has the latest on the evacuation of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation due to the threat of wildfires. CTV's Danton Unger has the latest on the evacuation of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation due to the threat of wildfires. The province's wildfire season is now the worst on record in the last 30 years, according to the Manitoba government's latest fire bulletin. Over 1.55 million hectares have burned in the province, which remains under a provincial state of emergency. The province said the state of emergency is in effect until Friday, though it may be extended if necessary. In northern Manitoba, two wildfires near Thompson have merged amid widespread smoke, according to a post on the city's Facebook page Tuesday. The merged wildfire now known as Fire NO050 is over 46,000 hectares in size, per the province's latest fire map. The city said additional bulldozer guards are being constructed between the fire and Highway 391 to strengthen containment. The highway traversing the city is closed except for essential service vehicles and evacuees leaving Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, which issued an evacuation notice Sunday. A separate fire located approximately 14 kilometres from the city, Fire NO061, experienced movement in the north and 'a lot of activity in the southern portion' on Monday, according to the city. 'The Manitoba Wildfire Service was unable to do much work on Fire NO061 on Monday due to aircraft transporting Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation evacuees from the Thompson Airport, which resulted in restrictions on other aircraft movements,' said the city. Water bombers are scooping water from Footprint Lake to combat the flames, which may also include a planned backburn in an area between Mystery Lake and the Burntwood River, according to the city. Two fires near Snow Lake have also merged, according to the province's Tuesday fire bulletin. The fire is now approximately 57,800 hectares and out of control. A notice on Snow Lake's website Tuesday indicates a cool Monday allowed crews to make further progress, focusing on strengthening containment lines and cleaning up fire extensions to the north and south of the town. 'Last night, a tactical backburn was conducted on fire 89, aimed at reinforcing protection to the west and north. The operation had a very good effect with no issues reported,' said the town. 'Aerial resources continue to be utilized across the remaining fires where possible and where resource availability allows.' The Manitoba Wildfire Service continues to respond to 165 active wildfires across the province, with a total of 401 wildfires to date. The average for this date is 299 total fires, according to the province.
CBC
6 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Leaf Rapids lodge owner relieved after wildfire misses property
Winds shifting in a positive direction have Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in northern Manitoba pausing its wildfire evacuation, while the operators of a lodge northwest of Leaf Rapids are thankful a fire narrowly missed their property.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Manitoba wildfire season worst in 30 years: province
A wildfire near Flin Flon, Man., on May 27, 2025. (Government of Manitoba) The province's wildfire season is now the worst on record in the last 30 years, according to the Manitoba government's latest fire bulletin. Over 1.55 million hectares have burned in the province, which remains under a provincial state of emergency. The province said the state of emergency is in effect until Friday, though it may be extended if necessary. In northern Manitoba, two wildfires near Thompson have merged amid widespread smoke, according to a post on the city's Facebook page Tuesday. The merged wildfire now known as Fire NO050 is over 46,000 hectares in size, per the province's latest fire map. The city said additional bulldozer guards are being constructed between the fire and Highway 391 to strengthen containment. The highway traversing the city is closed except for essential service vehicles and evacuees leaving Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, which issued an evacuation notice Sunday. A separate fire located approximately 14 kilometres from the city, Fire NO061, experienced movement in the north and 'a lot of activity in the southern portion' on Monday, according to the city. 'The Manitoba Wildfire Service was unable to do much work on Fire NO061 on Monday due to aircraft transporting Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation evacuees from the Thompson Airport, which resulted in restrictions on other aircraft movements,' said the city. Water bombers are scooping water from Footprint Lake to combat the flames, which may also include a planned backburn in an area between Mystery Lake and the Burntwood River, according to the city. Two fires near Snow Lake have also merged, according to the province's Tuesday fire bulletin. The fire is now approximately 57,800 hectares and out of control. A notice on Snow Lake's website Tuesday indicates a cool Monday allowed crews to make further progress, focusing on strengthening containment lines and cleaning up fire extensions to the north and south of the town. 'Last night, a tactical backburn was conducted on fire 89, aimed at reinforcing protection to the west and north. The operation had a very good effect with no issues reported,' said the town. 'Aerial resources continue to be utilized across the remaining fires where possible and where resource availability allows.' The Manitoba Wildfire Service continues to respond to 165 active wildfires across the province, with a total of 401 wildfires to date. The average for this date is 299 total fires, according to the province.
CBC
6 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation pauses evacuation as 'favourable winds' keep wildfire at bay
Winds shifting in a positive direction have a northern Manitoba First Nation pausing its wildfire evacuation, meaning nearly a third of the community will stay put for now — though that could change if the outlook worsens again. About 2,500 Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation residents were forced to leave over the weekend as wildfire threatened the only road into the community, located about 600 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. Others were expecting to leave, but conditions have improved slightly and as a result evacuations have been paused. "We're delaying the evacuation until further notice until we get more updates in terms of what's happening with the fires," NCN Chief Marcel Moody told CBC News on Tuesday. "The winds have shifted in our favour, and hopefully we get rain." Moody said the decision was made late Monday afternoon after a briefing with provincial wildfire officials. The improved situation means the roughly 1,300 people on evacuation alert who remain in NCN can stay for now, said Moody. He said many evacuees are in Winnipeg, where they'll remain for the time being. "Right now the situation is a little bit better than Saturday and that's the reason why we evacuated our people starting Saturday, but the situation has improved but it could get worse very quickly too." "It really depends on what's happening. Hopefully we want to get our people back as soon as possible, but for the most part I think we want to keep them there until we have the situation under control." Manitoba is in the midst of its worst wildfire season in about three decades and remains under a provincewide state of emergency. Manitoba's wildfire services map suggests there are at least two wildfires burning north of Nisichawayasihk, with one having grown to more than 46,000 hectares by Sunday. Wildfires have produced one of the smokiest years on record in many parts of Manitoba. Much of the north and central parts of the province were under air quality warnings on Monday. Moody said there is a fire guard set up in an area near NCN to help stop or slow the fire from creeping closer to the community. "The risk has been minimized I think, but you never know," said Moody. '"It's mostly the smoke that we're concerned about in our community ... We don't know [what] the long-term impacts of smoke is going to be on our people but I imagine it's not very good."
CTV News
7 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Thousands to flee First Nation in northern Manitoba over wildfire threat
A CL415 water bomber performs at the Aero Gatineau Ottawa air show in Gatineau on Sept. 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle WINNIPEG — Thousands of people have fled from a First Nation in northern Manitoba Monday as wildfires burned closer and closer to the community. The Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, also called Nelson House, issued a full evacuation order Sunday in response to the blazes, as flames threatened to cut off road access and muddied air quality. It was upgraded one day later to a mandatory evacuation. The community's roughly 4,000 residents were to register with the Cree Nation before busing to the Thompson Airport, about 75 kilometres away, to fly to Winnipeg. On social media, Nisichawayasihk Chief Angela Levasseur said crews are working around the clock to make sure everyone gets out safely. 'We are also doing everything in our power to make sure every possible measure is taken to suppress the wildfires that threaten our beloved ancestral lands,' she said in the post. 'We want you to know that we have escalated our concerns to the highest levels of government — including the Premier of Manitoba and the Prime Minister of Canada — to make our needs and demands clear on behalf of our citizens.' An update says wildfire crews with the province have identified several new fire starts. 'Given the proximity to Nelson House and the city of Thompson, the potential for damage is significant and should not be underestimated,' the update says. Manitoba's wildfire service says at least two wildfires are burning north of Nisichawayasihk, including one more than 460 square kilometres in size. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, an advocacy group representing some northern First Nations, said more than 1,300 people registered with the Canadian Red Cross in Winnipeg as of Monday. More were expected to arrive later in the day, the group said, noting it would provide essentials like hygiene packs, toothpaste, toothbrushes, snacks and juice. 'Our hearts are with you,' the group said. 'We pray for rain and a quick return home.' In July, residents of the Cree Nation were ordered to evacuate following a state of emergency over heavy wildfire smoke. Monday's evacuation comes as the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reports almost 750 wildfires across Canada, including one about 60 kilometres from Nanaimo, B.C. Another two are along the shores of Conception Bay in eastern Newfoundland. The BC Wildfire Service said the Wesley Ridge wildfire on Vancouver Island has grown to more than five square kilometres. Officials said a small amount of rain is expected this week, but dry conditions in the area mean it would take a lot to tame the fire. Meanwhile, the Newfoundland and Labrador government issued evacuation orders for the two towns of Small Point—Adam's Cove — Blackhead — Broad Cove and Kingston due to a 150-hectare wildfire that had come within one kilometre of Kingston. Another evacuation order was issued for portions of the town of Holyrood, NL. Smoke from the wildfires has filled many Canadian skies from Vancouver Island to Toronto to Charlottetown with grey and gritty haze. One air quality tracker on Monday ranked Toronto as having some of the worst air quality in the world. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2025.
