Latest news with #cottagers
CBC
25-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Whitshell residents say there's a frustrating lack of communication about wildfire situation
Some permanent residents and cottagers at Whiteshell Provincial Park say frustration is growing as they wait to hear when they'll be allowed to return home, after the province of Manitoba lifted evacuation orders for some parts of the park earlier this week.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Pointe du Bois reopens after 'more progress' controlling wildfires around Whiteshell
A section in the northwest corner of Whiteshell Provincial Park has reopened to the public after the province says there has been "more progress" in battling out-of-control wildfires. Permanent residents, cottagers, commercial operators and visitors are allowed back into Pointe du Bois as of Sunday morning, the province said in its latest fire bulletin. The area, roughly 120 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, had been under a mandatory evacuation order for almost two weeks after extreme fire conditions from out-of-control wildfires encroaching on the park forced its closure to the public. The province reopened the first pockets of the Whiteshell on Thursday, including Sylvia Lake, Eleanor Lake, Dorothy Lake, Otter Falls, Barrier Bay, Nutimik Lake and Betula Lake on the west side of the park. Those returning to the park "must be prepared to evacuate with little notice," the bulletin said. Manitoba Parks says "more progress has been made" to control the blazes, but the wildfires are still large, complex and expected to remain active. Weather forecasts are also not favourable with warm, dry conditions and no rain in the week ahead, the province said. "Many Manitobans are eager to return to the parks that remain closed, but public safety remains the top priority," the bulletin said. As of Friday, the largest fire encroaching on the park stretches over 101,000 hectares north of the Whiteshell in Nopiming Provincial Park. A wildfire is also burning at the Manitoba-Ontario border, near Ingolf, reaching a total 32,000 hectares in size, with about 1,650 hectares on the Manitoba side as of Friday. "Restrictions and closures remain in place for everyone's safety and allows fire crews and emergency responders space to do their work," the province said. The majority of the Whiteshell remains under a mandatory evacuation order. The campgrounds in the provincial park remain closed to limit overnight guests, hiking trails are closed and backcountry travel is prohibited. The province is asking for patience and cooperation as the situation continues to unfold.
CBC
25-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Pointe du Bois reopens after 'more progress' controlling wildfires around Whiteshell
A section in the northwest corner of Whiteshell Provincial Park has reopened to the public after the province says there has been "more progress" in battling out-of-control wildfires. Permanent residents, cottagers, commercial operators and visitors are allowed back into Pointe du Bois as of Sunday morning, the province said in its latest fire bulletin. The area, roughly 120 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, had been under a mandatory evacuation order for almost two weeks after extreme fire conditions from out-of-control wildfires encroaching on the park forced its closure to the public. The province reopened the first pockets of the Whiteshell on Thursday, including Sylvia Lake, Eleanor Lake, Dorothy Lake, Otter Falls, Barrier Bay, Nutimik Lake and Betula Lake on the west side of the park. Those returning to the park "must be prepared to evacuate with little notice," the bulletin said. Manitoba Parks says "more progress has been made" to control the blazes, but the wildfires are still large, complex and expected to remain active. Weather forecasts are also not favourable with warm, dry conditions and no rain in the week ahead, the province said. "Many Manitobans are eager to return to the parks that remain closed, but public safety remains the top priority," the bulletin said. As of Friday, the largest fire encroaching on the park stretches over 101,000 hectares north of the Whiteshell in Nopiming Provincial Park. A wildfire is also burning at the Manitoba-Ontario border, near Ingolf, reaching a total 32,000 hectares in size, with about 1,650 hectares on the Manitoba side as of Friday. "Restrictions and closures remain in place for everyone's safety and allows fire crews and emergency responders space to do their work," the province said. The majority of the Whiteshell remains under a mandatory evacuation order. The campgrounds in the provincial park remain closed to limit overnight guests, hiking trails are closed and backcountry travel is prohibited. The province is asking for patience and cooperation as the situation continues to unfold.
CBC
24-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
'Resentment is high,' says Whiteshell resident as homeowners, cottagers wait for information about return
Social Sharing Some permanent residents and cottagers at Whiteshell Provincial Park say frustration is growing as they wait to hear when they'll be allowed to return home, after the province of Manitoba lifted evacuation orders for some parts of the park earlier this week. The province issued an evacuation order on May 13, closing the eastern Manitoba park on May 15 due to extreme fire conditions. On Thursday, Manitoba Parks let permanent residents, cottagers and commercial operators return to Falcon Lake and Barren Lake, in the south of the provincial park. Manitoba's latest fire bulletin shows a wildfire burning at the Manitoba-Ontario border, near Ingolf, had reached a total 32,000 hectares in size, with about 1,650 hectares on the Manitoba side. In that Friday update, the province reiterated that some parts of the Whiteshell were safe but said "more suppression is needed" before other areas can reopen. Golf courses have resumed operations, fishing tournaments are underway and couples are celebrating their weddings this weekend at Falcon Lake, said Brian Zimmerman, a permanent Whiteshell resident. But just under 15 kilometres northwest of Falcon Lake, his home at the West Hawk Lake is still under an evacuation order. "We just keep being told that the fire is still going and it's in danger," Zimmerman said. "But it's not near our place at all, and we just don't understand how seven minutes away, everything is open.… Every area around here is vulnerable." A spokesperson for the province said Manitoba is working to protect lives and ensure firefighters can do their jobs safely. As soon as people can return, they will be notified, the statement said. Updates 'word of mouth or via Facebook': resident But Jocelyn Martin, who has had a home at West Hawk Lake with her husband, Jason Martin, for 25 years, said residents and cottagers have largely been left in the dark, combing through social media posts to figure out what's happening. "Most of the updates about the fires and the evacuation have been coming through word of mouth or via Facebook," Jocelyn Martin said. She said the community has largely been left to gather information on their own, leading to growing frustration over what they say is lack of communication from Manitoba Parks and provincial officials. "The resentment is high," said Jocelyn. "It's becoming ugly amongst the community because of the lack of communication." Jason Martin said he and Jocelyn are taking each day as it comes, couch-surfing while waiting for updates. "I don't think anybody wants to go back into the park or to a cottage or to a home, like ours, with any risk. That's not the concern, but the lack of detail and misinformation and misdirection," he said. Barb Bobychuk has been staying in Winnipeg since the wildfires forced her out of her home in Caddy Lake. She was hoping to get an update on when her family might be allowed back home on Saturday. "We've had no communication from the government, we have no clue as to when we're going to be allowed back, even though the fires in the north have not changed direction," Bobychuk said. Bobychuk said she got the evacuation order through word of mouth, unlike during a wildfire in 2016, when Manitoba Parks went door to door. The province said it provides regular updates on the fire to park residents and cottagers through the chamber of commerce and the Whiteshell Cottagers Association. But Bobychuk said information is not shared daily, and often lacks important details. "We don't know where the fires are burning, if they're burning close to us, any hot spots, who's working them," she said. She said a dedicated website for Whiteshell fire updates "is something that should have been done and instituted immediately." "If we had knowledge, we would then feel a little better," said Bobychuk.
CBC
14-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Large northwestern Ontario forest fire prompts evacuation
Social Sharing Ontario Forest Fires is strongly encouraging residents and cottagers in parts of northwestern Ontario near the Manitoba border to evacuate due to a large forest fire. Kenora 20 is burning near Ingolf, which is about 580 kilometres west of Thunder Bay. As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire was 8,000 hectares in size, and not under control. Ontario Forest Fires said it's encouraging people in the area of the fire to evacuate due to the "evolving situation and increased fire behaviour." The affected areas include: Malachi Lake Otter Lake Mantario Lake Hello Lake Jadel Lake Musk Lake Southern reaches of Tetu Lake, including Scot Bay In addition, road closures have been implemented on Gundy Road north of Tannis Lake, Pickerel Lake Road KM9 at Pelican Pouch Launch, and Cygnet Lake Road at Highway 525.
