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Global News
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Thousands on evacuation order in northern Manitoba due to wildfires
Thousands of people are being ordered to flee their homes in northern Manitoba due to a threat from nearby wildfires. The City of Flin Flon, Man., shared on social media on Wednesday afternoon that all residents and visitors must leave as soon as possible and in a calm and orderly manner. Residents are expected to be out of the community by 12 a.m. (midnight) on Wednesday. For community members with their own transportation, they are advised to evacuate through Provincial Road #10, heading towards The Pas, city officials said. The #10 may have some visibility issues, but it is currently considered safe to drive. Do not attempt to drive through PR #39 directly towards Thompson. 1:49 Wildfires prompt new evacuations across Western Canada Flin Flon Mayor George Fontaine told 680 CJOB's The Start that the current population is around 5,000, and many of them experienced similar fears when wildfires approached in 2024, threatening nearby Cranberry Portage. Story continues below advertisement For those evacuating on Wednesday, they should bring identification, medications, necessary supplies, go bags and any provisions for pets. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy If anyone does not have access to accommodations, call 2-11 for information about shelters in Winnipeg. In addition, nearly 17,500 people in northern Manitoba's First Nations are now trying to get to safety. Two more First Nations are on evacuation notice. According to the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc., Pimicikamak's airport is non-operational due to the fire threat. Thousands are attempting to be flown out and the community is also isolated by fire from the main highway. Marcel Colomb First Nation is also evacuated, and the community of Sherridon. Mathias Colomb Cree Nation is immediately evacuating as fire activity threatens limited escape routes, access to its airport is cut-off, and trains are also not operating because of the fire threat. The organization is urging the Manitoba government to declare a province-wide state of emergency. More to come…
Global News
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Global News
‘A serious situation': Flin Flon, Man. residents on evacuation alert as fires continue
Another northern Manitoba community is under threat from wildfires. Flin Flon residents have been told to be ready to leave at a moment's notice, as a large blaze that started in neighbouring Creighton, Sask., is moving into the province. A pre-evacuation alert notice has been sent out so area residents can get prepared to leave if conditions get too severe. 'Creighton is a kilometre away from us and that's where the fire came from,' Flin Flon Mayor George Fontaine told 680 CJOB's The Start. 'If the winds go the wrong way, that's why they're telling our residents to leave at a moment's notice right now. It's a serious situation.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Fontaine said Flin Flon's current population is around 5,000, and many of them experienced similar fears when wildfires approached in 2024, threatening nearby Cranberry Portage. Story continues below advertisement 'It's approaching our city from the north, so whether the winds are the right way or not this morning I guess is what we're going to find out. 'I'm heading home so I can be in communication with all my people — I was out west, I was headed for a wedding in Edmonton, but I had to come back here…. This is pretty important stuff.' Residents of Lynn Lake, Man., were forced to leave their homes Monday to avoid a nearby wildfire, which was only a half-dozen kilometres from the town earlier this week.
Global News
22-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
‘A real gut punch': Manitoba wildfires impact busy season in Whiteshell
A business owner in the North Whiteshell says she's looking forward to getting back to work when it's safe to do so. Stefanie Giasson told 680 CJOB's The Start she and her family bought White Lake Resort in 2014, and while some parts of the provincial park opened up Wednesday for residents to return, nearby fires continue to threaten some areas, making it unsafe — at least for now — for the resort to re-open. The province ordered an evacuation of the entire park last week after a blaze on the Ontario side of the provincial border crossed into Manitoba. Giasson said it was disheartening to have to cancel bookings over the May long weekend — the kick off to summer and cottage season, and typically a popular time at resorts like White Lake. 'We have 12 cabins at our resort, and they were fully booked for the long weekend, so those of course all had to be cancelled. We've had a bunch of bookings this week and leading into the weekend that we had to cancel as well. Story continues below advertisement 'Losing out on the first big weekend's a real gut punch, as a business like ours, we have such a short window of time to make the money that we need to survive each year,' she said. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'And it isn't just our business, it's our homes … we all live at these resorts.' As frustrating as the waiting game is, Giasson said at least there's been some movement toward bringing people back to the area, and that things will eventually get back to normal. 'It is encouraging seeing there is stuff opening back up, so that gives us some hope,' she said. 'I'm not going to lie — when I saw that email come through saying there was good news, I got really excited … and then I read it and saw that we were right on the edge of what was still remaining closed. 'We were disappointed, but we understand that it's all for safety.' Giasson said for now the resort is safe, with multiple decent-sized lakes separating the cabins from the ongoing wildfire. However, she understands why provincial officials are remaining cautious. 'Nature can change very quickly, as we all know. Things can change on a dime out there especially.' Story continues below advertisement Until they get all clear to return, Giasson said her family is staying with relatives in Winnipeg. As of Thursday morning, the wildfire situation across the province appeared to be continuing to improve, although some concerning fires remain. Nopiming Provincial Park remains evacuated, and a massive blaze more than double the size of Winnipeg is dangerously close to Bird River. The province said there are currently 12 active wildfires in Manitoba, including a deadly one in Lac du Bonnet, which has seen some evacuation orders lifted as crews work to contain it. Manitoba's fire risk was classified as moderate as of Thursday.
Global News
20-05-2025
- General
- Global News
‘We're very happy': Lac du Bonnet welcoming some wildfire evacuees back home
Although a number of areas across the province remain under evacuation orders, around 650 people have been allowed back to their homes near Lac du Bonnet after fleeing from a wildfire last week. Two people were killed in the fire, and more than 1,000 people were evacuated last week, officials said. Now there's a staggered approach to letting people back in. Reeve Loren Schinkel told 680 CJOB's The Start that it's been positive seeing so many residents getting back home. 'We asked certain residents (to return), the ones that were further to the north, and then populated back,' he said. 'I know there were people waiting at the line when that announcement was made, but everything appears to have gone very well, and we're very happy, certainly, for the residents.' View image in full screen Members of the Manitoba Wildfire Program survey the land as fire crews continue to fight wildfires around Lac du Bonnet, Man., on Thurs. May 15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski. JFJ Schinkel said Manitoba Hydro crews deserve credit for the remarkable work they've done in cleaning up damages, including more than 200 downed poles and other debris. Story continues below advertisement 'They've got crews (working with) miles and miles of wire, cleaning that up,' he said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Then they're picking up insulators because it's a total area of destruction and they've got one team doing that. Another team is coming behind pulling out hydro poles that have been burned and putting them on a trailer. 'They're grinding everything up with a huge machine out there to make the right-of-ways where they should be. Then you've got surveyors coming through and marking. Then you've got another machine out there drilling holes in granite.' An evacuation order remains in place for community members who live near the RM of Alexander and Pinawa Bay Channel.
Global News
15-05-2025
- General
- Global News
Wildfire evacuee says fleeing Lac du Bonnet blaze an emotional ordeal
An evacuee from the Lac du Bonnet area says it's been an emotional time dealing with the impact of the wildfire that has engulfed the area, especially with Wednesday's news that two people were killed in the blaze. Ron Burley, one of thousands who had to flee as wildfires continue to grip Manitoba, told 680 CJOB's The Start that his cottage is at the end of Wendigo Road at Grausdin Point, where there's only one road in and one road out. While driving away to escape the wildfire, the choice to make a turn partway through may have saved his life, Burley said. Story continues below advertisement 'We thought we were one of the last ones out … I didn't think we could continue to Wendigo toward Highway 313, so we made the decision to turn left and head towards Lee River Road, or head east,' he said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The bodies were what was ahead, for sure — the two bodies they found.' Burley said the last he heard, his home was still there, but he's nervous about what he might find when it's safe to go back. One of his neighbours, he said, had a particularly harrowing experience trying to reach safety. The man, a senior, was at home packing, when the situation became untenable and driving away from the area was no longer an option. 'Once I got in the clear, I got a call from one of my neighbours saying she didn't know that what was going on was as bad as it was,' Burley said. '(The man) was behind us still, and I just cut her off and said … you need to call him and tell him not to drive out. He needs to get into the kayak or swim to the golf course. He won't make it out. 'She got a hold of him pretty quick — he pulled his kayak out, (at) 78 years old, into the water and kayaked across the lake to the golf course.' Story continues below advertisement Burley said the sobering experience has given him more appreciation for the work of emergency personnel who have spent long hours battling the blaze and helping survivors to safety. 'You always hear they're called heroes … it's a total understatement to me,' he said. 'Standing in that, fighting for strangers' homes, it's unreal. It's two days later and still emotional. You think, 'It's just stuff'… but then you hear what we found out yesterday (about the two deaths). 'It just brings everything to a different magnitude of what we all went through.'
