Latest news with #SueNowell
CBC
20-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Lac du Bonnet wildfire evacuees return but for many, 'their world has changed'
Evacuated areas of Lac du Bonnet are slowly repopulating in the wake of an out-of-control wildfire that's now contained after leaving a path of destruction that includes two lives lost. "Yesterday afternoon we managed to get people back into the largest area there, some 650 residents," said Loren Schinkel, reeve for the rural municipality, northeast of Winnipeg, where 850 to 1,000 people were forced to leave shortly after the fire began May 13. Emergency officials have been allowing select areas of the community's evacuation zone to return since last week, some on Wednesday night, some Thursday, a few more Sunday and again more on Monday. It's been a graduated process as the fire's been attacked and contained, Schinkel said on Tuesday. Officials also met Monday with residents in the east Wendigo Road area where the fire began and 28 cottages and homes were lost. Sue and Richard Nowell died there after being trapped by the fire on May 13. "Their world has changed up there," Schinkel said, offering condolences on behalf of council and RM residents to those who've lost life and property. "People that were allowed back in yesterday, certainly they're they're glad to go home, but others can't, unfortunately. Some people have lost everything." Schinkel said he's never seen such complete destruction. If a fire burns a house, there is an expectation of a pile of rubble, of collapsed walls and roofs, he said. "There's nothing in this area that's like that. It was burning at 1,600 C. It was travelling at five kilometres an hour at its peak," he said. "Everything's disintegrated. It's vaporized because of the intensity of the heat. It's apocalyptic, really. "I describe it as a demon, a creature that just, you know, chose its path and did its damage." Monday's reopening allowed evacuees to return to the Cape Coppermine and Granite Hills areas as well as the west side of the Lee River. "Basically everybody in that area on the east side of Pinawa Bay, Pinawa Channel, is back into their residences," Schinkel said. The Grausdin Point and north Wendigo area are still under an evacuation order, but the hope is to reopen that soon, says a post on the Lac du Bonnet Emergency Management Facebook page. Despite the return to many areas, the danger hasn't completely subsided. There have been flare-ups and people are being urged to keep an eye out for flames. "Hot spots can linger and blow out as the wind temperature and humidity change," the Facebook post says. Flames can smoulder underground in peat lands, unseen until they erupt again. In one such area, crews have been digging in peat, with helicopters dumping buckets of water, Schinkel said. While the RM of Lac du Bonnet fire is now being held, the Bird River/Nopiming fire just to the northeast is a big concern. That one, still listed as out of control, covers more than 100,000 hectares. By comparison, the Lac du Bonnet one peaked at 4,000 hectares. "This fire is of the size and magnitude that if it turned on us with residents at home in the east region, the impacts would be devastating," the Facebook post said. As a result, all areas east of Belluk Road, along Highways 313 and 315 — including Pinawa Bay and Sunset Bay — remain under evacuation orders. The Bird River/Nopiming fire has destroyed 20 cabins and homes, and people there have said boats melted in the heat. Two other fires in the province also remain listed as out of control — the Ingolf, Ont. fire along the Manitoba-Ontario border, which has crept into Whiteshell Provincial Park, and the fire in the rural municipality of Piney, southeast of the Whiteshell. As of Monday night, the Ingolf fire had reached more than 31,000 hectares in size. The status of the Piney fire is expected to be changed soon to "being held," the RM's Facebook page says. An evacuation order was lifted Monday, allowing residents to return. There are 13 fires currently active in Manitoba, according to the province's FireView page, though it is out of date. The last update was May 18.
National Observer
20-05-2025
- Climate
- National Observer
A deadly start to wildfire season
It's hard to imagine a more terrifying and excruciating way to die — trapped by wildfire as the flames close in. Richard and Sue Nowell were killed this week by the Manitoba wildfires, leaving two sons orphaned and homeless. The deaths turned 'an emergency into a tragedy,' said Premier Wab Kinew. It had seemed to be a relatively subdued beginning to fire season in Canada compared to the past couple of years. There have been a few more fires than last year but significantly less area burned across the country by this date. The most striking exception is Manitoba, where fires have claimed over 161,000 hectares — four times more than last year. In Manitoba, over 1,000 people have been evacuated and our news feeds are beginning to fill with evacuation orders in other provinces. It has barely cracked Canadian news, but the boreal forests elsewhere in the world are up in flames too. Over 600,000 hectares have burned in the Lake Baikal region of Russia, just since late April. More than 1.4 million hectares have burned in Siberia since the beginning of the year. Smoke is expected to spread as far as Beijing and the Korean peninsula this weekend. South Korea is just recovering from the worst wildfires in its history — simultaneous outbreaks that killed 32 people, displaced 37,000 and burned about 5,000 buildings, including temples dating to the 7th century. 'The scale and speed of the fires were unlike anything we've ever experienced in South Korea,' said June-Yi Lee, an atmospheric scientist at Pusan National University. Scientists at World Weather Attribution calculated that climate change made the fire conditions about twice as likely. It's only May and it's always impossible to know what will happen in any given year, but Canadian wildfire experts are warning us not to be complacent. Wildfire season is looking grim this year. Forecasters at Natural Resources Canada expect level 5 (on a scale of 5) fire weather severity over most of the population centres across Western Canada by August. 'The dice are loaded,' says Mike Flannigan, one of Canada's foremost experts and a professor at Thompson Rivers University. How many fires and where they occur, 'will depend on the day-to-day weather and the ignitions we get.' Here's how the forecasters at Natural Resources Canada see the outlook for fire weather severity into August. By late summer, they expect level 5 (on a scale of 5) fire weather severity over most of the population centres across Western Canada: Double zombies Some of the fires now burning in BC and Alberta are 'zombie fires' — fires that smouldered on through winter — now with an added, disturbing twist. 'This is the first time I've seen fires in Canada survive two winters and I've been watching fires closely since the 1970s,' says Flannigan. 'A number of these fires started in 2023, burned through the winter… continued to grow in 2024 and then survived this winter.' Signed, Seared, Delivered Several civil society groups are organizing to keep climate change and wildfires on the political agenda. My Climate Plan built on its 'Don't Let Canada Burn' campaign and helped 'impact voters' get their voices heard in swing ridings during the federal election. The Sierra Club of Canada curated exhibits of artifacts from wildfires, floods and hurricanes in Canada, and it has been helping climate survivors push the Carney government to implement an emissions cap on the oil and gas industry. The Climate Emergency Unit just launched a campaign for Canadians to send postcards to the prime minister and key ministers. Each one has an image of an iconic Canadian location along with 'a scorching message about the climate crisis.'
National Post
17-05-2025
- Climate
- National Post
Manitoba wildfires: Rain offers some help for crews battling deadly fires
Article content Rain offered some help in the battle against forest fires in eastern Manitoba on Friday, but the effort remained far from over. Article content Steady rain hit areas including the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet, where a fire this week destroyed 28 homes and cottages and left two people dead. Article content Article content A section of one evacuated area was reopened Thursday night to permanent residents. But Schinkel said the fire in nearby areas is still burning and there was no word on when people might get back in. Article content Word emerged Friday of rescues that involved provincial staff and a private helicopter operator on Tuesday night as the fire raged. Article content Six people were extracted from an area near Lac du Bonnet, as were a family of four from Garner Lake and three stranded boaters from Shoe Lake, the province said. The latter two locations are in Nopiming Provincial Park, northeast of Lac du Bonnet. Article content Article content 'With fire conditions rapidly deteriorating, provincial staff from the Manitoba Wildfire Service and Conservation Officer Service, with the help of a local helicopter pilot, were able to make a series of dramatic rescues in very dangerous conditions,' a government statement said. Article content The fire near Lac du Bonnet claimed the lives of a man and his wife, identified as Richard and Sue Nowell, who were stranded by the flames. Article content Article content It also said he helped last year with evacuations and protecting properties during the Cranberry Portage fire in northern Manitoba, 'saving countless cottages and lives.' Article content An online fundraising effort for Ryland Nowell and his brother, as they both lived with their parents, had garnered more than $133,000 by Friday afternoon. Article content Condolences have poured in for the family. Article content 'My favourite memories with Sue are all around music, concerts and friends,' said high school friend Lori Sparacio. Article content 'She touched so many people and was the kindest and the most loving person. She loved her family beyond belief.' Article content Article content
Globe and Mail
16-05-2025
- Climate
- Globe and Mail
Rain offers some help for crews battling deadly wildfires in eastern Manitoba
Rain offered some help in the battle against forest fires in eastern Manitoba on Friday, but the effort remained far from over. Steady rain hit areas including the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet, where a fire this week destroyed 28 homes and cottages and left two people dead. 'It's been coming down pretty good,' said Loren Schinkel, the municipality's reeve. A section of one evacuated area was reopened Thursday night to permanent residents. But Schinkel said the fire in nearby areas is still burning and there was no word on when people might get back in. 'I was in the area this morning where the fire started ... and you still see tons of hot spots.' The fire claimed the lives of a man and his wife, identified as Richard and Sue Nowell, who were stranded by the flames. The Manitoba Conservation Officers Association said one of the couple's sons, Ryland Nowell, is a patrol captain with the service. 'Nowell had been assisting with the wildfires in Whiteshell Provincial Park in the days prior,' said a post on the association's Facebook page. It also said he helped last year with evacuations and protecting properties during the Cranberry Portage fire in northern Manitoba, 'saving countless cottages and lives.' An online fundraising effort for Ryland Nowell and his brother, as they both lived with their parents, had garnered more than $133,000 by Friday afternoon. Condolences have poured in for the family. 'My favourite memories with Sue are all around music, concerts and friends,' said high school friend Lori Sparacio. 'She touched so many people and was the kindest and the most loving person. She loved her family beyond belief.' Another 20 fires were also burning in the province, and the Manitoba government closed some provincial parks. Premier Wab Kinew visited Lac du Bonnet on Thursday night. He urged people to obey evacuation orders and not to light campfires and fireworks over the long weekend, even in areas where fires are still permitted. The Alberta government said it was sending help to Manitoba, with two wildland firefighting crews and support staff expected in the coming days.
CTV News
16-05-2025
- CTV News
Prime Minister Mark Carney offers condolences after two Manitobans killed in wildfire
A married couple have been identified as the people who died in a Manitoba wildfire. Jeff Keele has more on how the community is responding. A married couple have been identified as the people who died in a Manitoba wildfire. Jeff Keele has more on how the community is responding. Prime Minister Mark Carney is paying respect to two Manitobans who were killed in a wildfire in the Lac du Bonnet area. In a social media post, Carney described the deaths as 'heartbreaking, especially for a such a close-knit community.' 'I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the two victims, and everyone impacted by these fires,' he said. Carney's message comes shortly after RCMP confirmed that the bodies of two people were recovered Wednesday morning in the area of Wendigo Road. Multiple sources have confirmed the identities of the deceased as Richard and Sue Nowell. Premier visits Lac du Bonnet On Thursday, Premier Wab Kinew visited with volunteers and firefighters in the Lac du Bonnet area. The premier spoke with a group of people taking a break at a local restaurant and thanked them for their hard work. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew speaks with patrons at the Drifters Inn as fire crews continue to fight wildfires near Lac du Bonnet, Man., Thursday, May 15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew speaks with patrons at the Drifters Inn as fire crews continue to fight wildfires near Lac du Bonnet, Man., Thursday, May 15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski Earlier in the day, Kinew urged Manitobans to obey evacuation orders and avoid campfires and fireworks over the long weekend.
