Latest news with #WayneAnderson
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
RM of Piney residents to return home after wildfire evacuation order lifted
Southern Manitobans who were forced out of their town because of an out-of-control fire will now be able to return home. An evacuation order in the rural municipality of Piney was lifted Monday afternoon after Manitoba Wildfire Services confirmed there were no concerns about the fire along the perimeter, the community said in an update Monday afternoon. The rural municipality said the the nearly 9,000-hectare blaze is no longer out of control, and is being contained. Around 300 people were evacuated in the town of Woodridge in the rural municipality last week. Earlier Monday, officials with the town urged residents to be patient. "Everybody's getting anxious and wanting to lift [the evacuation] and they're wanting to come home," Wayne Anderson, reeve of the RM of Piney, said Monday. The reeve said the rural municipality received 15 millimetres of rain at the end of the week, which helped firefighting efforts. Woodridge resident Mason Hildebrand has been staying in Steinbach. He told Radio-Canada before the order was lifted most evacuees he's with were "already sick" of being stuck at a hotel, and wanted to go back home. "It's a little bit discouraging not being able to be in town in our own homes," he said. "But at the same time at least we're all safe." The evacuation order has been lifted in the towns of Woodridge, Carrick, St. Labre, Badger and surrounding areas, as well as the south side of Whitemouth Lake Road near the townsite of Florze, the update said. Lac du Bonnet fire no longer out of control There are currently 13 active wildfires in Manitoba, and there have been 81 fires so far this year. The average for this time in the province is 61. The 4,000-hectare fire which killed two people in the RM of Lac du Bonnet is no longer ruled to be out of control. About 150 people displaced by that fire were allowed to return home Sunday. The provincial fire map still showed the Piney fire as out of control as of 5 p.m. on Monday. Two other out-of-control fires remain: a fire in Ingolf, Ont., that's spread into Manitoba, and the fire in Nopiming Provincial Park, which is the largest. The province said Monday the Nopiming fire was 101,000 hectares in size and about a kilometre away from Bird River. It said 20 properties around Beresford Lake — which is north of the fire — have been damaged. B.C. firefighters redeployed from The Pas to Nopiming In northern Manitoba, officials are still monitoring a wildfire that was first detected on May 3 and has since grown to more than 42,000 hectares. That fire was no longer out of control as of Thursday. B.C. Wildfire Service says 21 out of the 42 crews sent out to The Pas to help fight the fire have been redeployed in Nopiming, but the rest still remain in northern Manitoba. At least 290 residents were forced out of their homes in RM of Kelsey because of the fire, with crews counting more than 90 evacuees from the Clearwater Lake Provincial Park area. They began returning home last week. Lori Forbes, emergency services co-ordinator for the rural municipality, said the fire destroyed three homes as well as some livestock. Manitoba Wildfire Services "are doing aerial with helicopters, they do infrared checking for hotspots just to ensure everything is out and cool. So those have been happening in the early mornings," Forbes said. "All evacuees from what I know would have returned home this weekend. So that's very good news."
CBC
19-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Wildfire evacuees anxious as RM of Piney says return home will take time
Social Sharing People in southern Manitoba who were forced out of their town because of an out-of-control wildfire may have to wait a while to return home, officials say. Manitoba Wildfire Services were set to meet their goal of 70 per cent containment of the nearly 9,000-hectare fire Monday — but an evacuation order remains in effect, the RM of Piney said in a social media post this weekend. Woodridge, about 85 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg, was among the towns in the rural municipality issued with the order as the fire turned out of control early last week. Wayne Anderson, reeve of the RM of Piney, said Monday around 300 people were evacuated in Woodridge. "Everybody's getting anxious and wanting to lift [the evacuation] and they're wanting to come home," he said. "There are a few people that refuse to leave. And of course, we can't force them." The reeve said the rural municipality received 15 millimetres of rain at the end of the week, which helped firefighting efforts. But Anderson said lifting the evacuation order may still take a few days. "It takes time, but … we got a very dry forest and high winds," Anderson said. "This cold weather is helping, but until the fire is fully contained we don't feel comfortable … telling them to come back. And then if a spark jumps the 100-foot barrier or something, then we're all going to have to evacuate again." Woodridge resident Mason Hildebrand has been staying in Steinbach. He said most evacuees he's with are "already sick" of being stuck at a hotel, and want to go back home. "It's a little bit discouraging not being able to be in town in our own homes," he said. "But at the same time at least we're all safe." The RM of Piney said in a social media update Monday afternoon the winds are currently not working on their favour. Donald Hrynyk said his home is safe, but the fire was closing in on it only a few days ago. "This wind is turning the fire around, so we have to wait and see," he said. Lac du Bonnet fire no longer out of control There are currently 13 active wildfires in Manitoba, and there have been 81 fires so far this year. The average for this time in the province is 61. The 4,000-hectare fire which killed two people in the RM of Lac du Bonnet is no longer ruled to be out of control. About 150 people displaced by that fire were allowed to return home Sunday. Three fires remain out of control as of Monday: The Piney fire, a fire in Ingolf, Ont., that's spread into Manitoba, and the fire at Nopiming Provincial Park, which is the largest. The province said Monday the Nopiming fire was 101,000 hectares in size and about a kilometre away from Bird River. It said 20 properties around Beresford Lake — which is north of the fire — have been damaged. B.C. firefighters redeployed from The Pas to Nopiming In northern Manitoba, officials are still monitoring a wildfire that was first detected on May 3 and has since grown to more than 42,000 hectares. That fire was no longer out of control as of Thursday. B.C. Wildfire Service says 21 out of the 42 crews sent out to The Pas to help fight the fires have been redeployed in Nopiming, but the rest still remain in northern Manitoba. At least 290 residents were forced out of their homes in RM of Kelsey because of the fire, with crews counting more than 90 evacuees from the Clearwater Lake Provincial Park area. They began returning home last week. Lori Forbes, emergency services coordinator for the rural municipality, said the fire destroyed three home as well as some livestock. Manitoba Wildfire Services "are doing aerial with helicopters, they do infrared checking for hotspots just to ensure everything is out and cool. So those have been happening in the early mornings," Forbes said.
CTV News
16-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Piney wildfire inches closer to cottage communities
Scattered showers have helped to shrink one of the wildfires threatening a number of Manitoba communities, but it is still not enough to lift evacuation orders. The RM of Piney released an update Thursday, noting the fire was estimated to be just under 8,000 hectares. On Thursday morning, it was 3.5 kilometres away from the townsite in Woodridge and just over one kilometre from Badger, the RM wrote. 'Heavy machinery and helicopter buckets are working non-stop building fire guards in the areas Manitoba Wildfire Services feels are necessary,' the post said. The good news—the region had some rain overnight, which helped to modestly shrink the wildfire's scope. 'It's a sprinkling and it's very scattered showers—like one or two millimetres, and what we need is like 25 millimetres,' RM of Piney Reeve Wayne Anderson told CTV News Winnipeg. St. Labre wildfire A wildfire nears St. Labre, Man. on May 13, 2025. (Gary Hora) Two structures, a home and a garage, were previously confirmed to have been destroyed. Anderson said another structure is suspected to have burned as well. So far, hundreds of people have registered at the reception centre set up at the Piney Community Centre, but Anderson said they still don't have a full picture of how many people were displaced. He urged all evacuees to register so they can get an accurate headcount and connect them with resources. Staff and volunteers are also on-site offering food and refreshments to evacuees. Anyone who needs a place to stay can stay the night, Anderson said. The province has also set up lodging for evacuees at a number of hotels. Details can be found on the RM's Facebook page. (hyperlink) With more rain in the forecast, Anderson hopes some relief is on the horizon. 'We're hanging in there. We're at the emergency operation centre from early morning till late night.'
CBS News
29-04-2025
- CBS News
Colorado jury convicts man in DUI crash that killed Air Force pilot and father of four
The family of an Air Force lieutenant colonel killed by a drunk driver last year in Colorado received some closure Monday when a jury found Paul Stephenson guilty of murder, driving under the influence and other charges. Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Kyle Anderson was an athlete, a pilot and a serviceman. Matthew Kyle Anderson Anderson Family "Matt did a whole lot," said Matthew's father, Wayne Anderson. "He was a Division I football player. ... He was in the military, very well known in the special operations community in the Air Force. He was a pilot." But most importantly, the 38 year old was a family man. "Matt loved his kids, his four kids. He was very well known in our family as Uncle Matt. He would be the guy throwing the kids up in the air and in the pool," Wayne Anderson said, while fighting back tears. Matt spent his last day alive doing what he loved: spending time with his family. On Aug. 4, 2024, the young family spent their Sunday morning at the Douglas County Fair. Before driving home to Centennial, they stopped for gas at the 7-Eleven on East Plum Creek Parkway in Castle Rock. While Matt's wife went inside the 7-Eleven, Matt's four children, aged between 2 and 12 years old, waited in the car. As Matt gassed up, a truck crashed into their minivan. Prosecutors say 56-year-old Paul Stephenson drank a bottle of Fireball and two beers before crashing his car into the family's parked car. Paul Stephenson Douglas County The crash killed Matt and injured all four of his children. Stephenson's defense attorney called the crash a "tragic" accident and said there was no malicious intent. On Monday, a jury found Stephenson guilty of 12 charges, including murder, multiple counts of attempted murder, multiple counts of child abuse and DUI. "I was very satisfied with the guilty verdicts," Wayne Anderson said. Stephenson was found not guilty on two other attempted murder charges for a couple in another vehicle who he missed striking by inches. "This guy just got lucky in not hitting both cars and that was the basis for us prosecuting that. The jury deliberated and came up with a different conclusion. I think they're victims," said George Brauchler, district attorney for the 23rd Judicial District. Brauchler said the convictions send a message about drinking and driving. "You drink, you get behind the wheel and you kill someone in this jurisdiction, we're going to try to take away your freedom," Brauchler said. "This was extreme indifference to the value of human life, and it's going to cost this guy every free moment of his." For the family, justice is a small step towards healing. "We expected this verdict but it's just a real relief to hear it," Wayne Anderson said. Stephenson will be sentenced on July 3. Matt's wife, Allie, shared a statement thanking the community and first responders for their support, and asking for privacy as she and her children try to move on.
