7 days ago
Province reopening more areas of Whiteshell park, including campgrounds at Caddy and West Hawk lakes
More permanent residents, cottagers and business owners can now return to areas of Caddy Lake and West Hawk Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park, the province said Tuesday.
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, Caddy Lake blocks 6, 7, 8, along with Island Block and Green Bay Resort, were reopened to permanent residents, cottagers and commercial operators, the province said in an online update. At West Hawk Lake, McDougall's Landing, Big Island Landing and Indian Bay also reopened on Tuesday.
Campgrounds at Brereton, Caddy, West Hawk and White lakes will reopen for seasonal and nightly campers on Friday, June 6, at 4 p.m., the Manitoba government said in its most recent fire bulletin.
An out-of-control wildfire that spread into Manitoba from the area around Ingolf, Ont., still covered a total of more than 36,000 hectares as of Tuesday afternoon, the province said, including over 5,000 hectares on the Manitoba side.
An evacuation order is still in effect for some parts of the park, while closures remain for Caddy Lake blocks 1, 2, 5 and the public boat launch at Block 4.
The province said Big Whiteshell, Crowduck, Nora and Florence lakes will also stay closed, as will the Caddy Lake tunnels.
Campgrounds at Big Whiteshell Lake will remain closed until at least June 19.
But as the Whiteshell reopened further, two provincial parks in northwestern Manitoba were ordered to close Tuesday.
Grass River and Wekusko Falls are both under a mandatory evacuation order, the province said, with access restricted to all park users including campers, commercial operators and day visitors.
Grass River and Wekusko Falls are both close to wildfires burning out of control near Sherridon, Wanless and Flin Flon. The Sherridon fire — the largest of the three fires — is more than 112,000 hectares in size and is still out of control, the province said.
All trails and water routes in all Manitoba provincial parks remain closed, the government said Tuesday.
There are 27 active wildfires across Manitoba as of Tuesday afternoon.
