Latest news with #wildfires
CBC
27 minutes ago
- Climate
- CBC
'Resources stretched thin": Premier Scott Moe
Premier Scott Moe says Saskatchewan's ability to fight a plague of wildfires across the province is reaching the breaking point. The premier was joined by officials from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency at a news conference in Prince Albert to update the current wildfire situation. The province continues to experience one of its worst starts to the wildfire season on record. More than 533,000 hectares have burned in wildfires across the province so far this year. "Resources are stretched thin," Moe told reporters in Prince Albert. "Just can't have another fire." People need to be absolutely careful about accessing areas close to the wildfires as these are incredibly stressful and challenging times for those in northern Saskatchewan. Sixteen active wildfires in the province have led to at least 17 evacuations forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. State of emergency declared in Sturgeon Landing The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation has declared a state of emergency for the community of Sturgeon Landing due to wildfires. It's issuing a mandatory evacuation order because of heavy smoke from a wildfire burning in Manitoba and the increasing threat to road access in and out of the area. The First Nation says all community members must evacuate immediately. It says evacuees must meet at the Wanless Store, which will serve as the staging area. From there, it says, a convoy will travel to The Pas with support from emergency personnel to ensure a safe evacuation. If anyone is evacuating by private vehicle, they are urged to follow the convoy and not travel alone. Wildfire smoke is also affecting other communities in the province, with air quality warnings in place for areas including Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert and Estevan. The province's largest fire, the Shoe fire, has burned 305,000 hectares which is about 13 times the size of Saskatoon. Smoke from that fire has been threatening communities, including the resort village of Candle Lake. The community experienced thick smoke over the last few days, but according to their latest update, the fire is "moving more slowly toward Candle Lake." "However, wind and weather conditions can change quickly, and our pre-alert evacuation and voluntary evacuation notices remain in effect," according to the update at 10 a.m. Friday. The Sakatchewan Public Safety Agency said that resources are being deployed to mitigate the fire, including type 1 and type 2 fire crews, helicopters, local fire departments and heavy equipment. Communities evacuated due to the Shoe fire include Lower Fishing Lake, Piprell Lake, East Trout Lake, Little Bear Lake. Whiteswan/Whelan Bay. Prince Albert National Park limits access Parks Canada has issued a closure for areas within Prince Albert National Park due to the wildfires. It's restricting all backcountry areas in the National Park, Kingsmere Road west of Narrows Peninsula Trail. Elk Trail and the Valleyview network of trails, excluding the Valley View easy and moderate trails. All of Crean Lake, including Crean Kitchen campground and day-use area, excluding Hanging Heart Lakes. Visitors are being asked to respect the closures to reduce the risk of igniting new fires. Power remains out in northeastern Sask. communities. SaskPower said in an update that wildfire conditions are disrupting repair work for the outage in some northern communities. Crews have been forced to stop work in Deschambault Lake, Denare Beach, Pelican Narrows, Jan Lake, Creighton, and surrounding areas. As of Friday morning, crews had been unable to resume work in those regions safely. In La Ronge, Southend, Brabant Lake, and McLennan Lake, similar challenges are being reported. SaskPower said Friday that crews are en route to continue repairs to address the outage, but no estimated time of restoration is currently available due to the ongoing wildfire threat. Métis Nation–Saskatchewan declares state of emergency On Friday, the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) also declared a state of emergency, joining the provincial government as more citizens are forced to flee their homes with little or no notice. "These wildfires are spreading so unpredictably, and citizens are being evacuated with little or no notice and no destination in place. They're leaving behind their homes and their livelihoods with little more than uncertainty ahead," MN–S President Glen McCallum said in a statement. The MN–S government said it has mounted response teams to assist in fire zones, is providing culturally grounded services where possible, and is co-ordinating with provincial and federal partners to ensure Métis citizens have access to support. Federal response to wildfires Saskatchewan is under a provincial state of emergency due to wildfires. That means the province can access more resources and call for support from different levels of the government. Eleanor Olszewski, the federal emergency preparedness minister, said in an interview with CBC News Network on Friday that Manitoba has called for a 'request for assistance' from the federal government, but Saskatchewan has not made a similar request yet. She said that the Royal Canadian Air Force is helping those remote communities in Manitoba evacuate to Winnipeg. "I did speak with my counterpart, my provincial counterpart Tim McLeod, this afternoon and he advised me that the situation in Saskatchewan is manageable at the present time," she said. "In the event that federal resources are required, we're absolutely prepared to step up and help," Olszewski said.
Globe and Mail
27 minutes ago
- Climate
- Globe and Mail
Manitoba evacuates hundreds more as wildfires rage in Western Canada
Hundreds of new evacuations were ordered Saturday in Manitoba as raging wildfires in Western Canada have already forced thousands of people to leave their homes. Residents of Cranberry Portage in the rural municipality of Kelsey, Man., close to the Saskatchewan border, were ordered to head toward Winnipeg, where more than 17,000 evacuees from other areas in the province are already being housed in arenas and soccer fields converted into shelters. Both Manitoba and Saskatchewan declared provincewide states of emergency earlier this week. Saskatchewan declares state of emergency as wildfires force evacuations in western and central Canada Lori Forbes, co-ordinator for the Kelsey area, where more than 430 people live, said a large fire has knocked down many hydro lines. She urged residents to pack kits and drive toward safety by Saturday afternoon, as gas and other supplies in the region, 600 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, are running out. She urged residents to stay in safer zones with friends and family if possible. 'Power may be out in the Cranberry Portage area for multiple days,' she wrote on social media. A spokesperson for Manitoba Hydro said it was hard to determine when power will be restored in Cranberry Portage. 'It's still an area of active wildfires, so we can't safely access the area,' said Peter Chura in a statement. More than 180 wildfires were burning across Canada on Saturday, with dozens spanning from northwestern Ontario through to large regions of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, along with northern areas in Alberta and British Columbia. At least 90 of those are considered out of control and six new fires have started since Friday. The situation this week has been so severe that Manitoba was forced to call upon the Canadian Armed Forces to rescue residents from several communities. The province is contending with at least 25 active wildfires, with 106 in total this year. Before this week, the 20-year average for the region was 78 annual fires. Near Cranberry Portage, in Flin Flon, Man., more than 5,000 residents have left the mining city, with only firefighters and a few officials staying behind. Many patients have been transferred to Saskatchewan-area hospitals, while most of the evacuees are now staying in Winnipeg. Officials worry the wind in the area may shift in the wrong direction over the weekend, bringing the out-of-control flames right into Flin Flon, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said late Friday. 'Please pray for rain,' he said. Wildfires force thousands to flee homes in Western Canada At least five more planes, including two military aircraft, are expected to transport evacuees from Pimicikamak Cree Nation in Pukatawagan, Man., on Saturday, said Chief David Monias. Wildfires have left that community's nearest airport non-operational, forcing residents to rely on the few roads that can lead them to a ferry toward Norway House Cree Nation, about 800 kilometres north of Winnipeg, where they are departing on flights. 'This is the most unstable and unpredictable situation I have ever been in,' Mr. Monias said in an interview Saturday. 'The smoke here is so thick, and conditions are so bad, we're actually having trouble even with the planes.' People from two more areas in Manitoba that were ordered to evacuate Friday – around Bakers Narrows in the north and Bissett in the east – began to arrive Saturday in the province's reception centres. Others in the northern region - Pimicikamak Cree Nation, Cross Lake, Norway House and Mathias Colomb First Nation in Pukatawagan - are also being evacuated. The province, with the support of Red Cross, opened a handful of large evacuation shelters in Winnipeg this week. As of Saturday, however, it is now opening spaces in other areas as well, including Winkler and Brandon. In Saskatchewan, 16 fires were actively burning Saturday, seven of which were uncontained. The province has recorded 211 wildfires this year – well over its five-year annual average of 128 and the 169 fires recorded this time last year. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has ordered evacuations for the communities around Pelican Narrows, Hall Lake, Brabant Lake, Canoe Lake, Lower Fishing Lake, Piprell Lake, East Trout Lake, Little Bear Lake, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and Whiteswan Bay. Residents of other communities have also been told to be ready to flee at a moment's notice this weekend. In northern Ontario, roughly 400 people from Webequie First Nation were being transported Saturday to Barrie, Ont., as the province faced 14 active wildfires, three of which were newly discovered Friday. Warnings about extreme smoke in the air have been issued in most of Alberta this week. There were at least 53 active wildfires as of Saturday morning, with 29 deemed out of control. Evacuations in the province are taking place near Chipewyan Lake, Red Earth Creek, Loon Lake, Peerless Lake and Trout Lake. B.C. grappled with at least 63 wildfires, with more than half out of control – mostly in the northeast. Rural communities were being evacuated in the Peace River Regional District, where the fire quickly quadrupled in size within a single day this week.
The Independent
an hour ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Wildfires burning across central Canada force additional evacuation orders and more shelters to open
Roughly 17,000 residents in the Canadian province of Manitoba have been evacuated because of nearly two dozen active wildfires, officials said Saturday. More than 5,000 of those are from Flin Flon, where there is no rain in the immediate forecast. There have been no structure fires in the city located nearly 645 kilometers (400 miles) northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg as of Saturday morning, but officials worry that a change in wind direction could bring the fire into town. Manitoba declared a state of emergency on Wednesday as the fires burning from the northwest to the southeast forced evacuations in several communities in the province directly north of the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota. Smoke from the fires is being pushed south into some parts of the U.S., worsening air quality. Thousands have also been affected by wildfires in Saskatchewan and Alberta, with 1,300 people in the community of Swan Hills northwest of Edmonton forced from their homes. In northern Manitoba, fire knocked out power to the community of Cranberry Portage, forcing a mandatory evacuation order Saturday for about 600 residents. People living in smaller nearby communities were told to prepare to evacuate after a fire jumped a highway. 'Please start getting ready and making plans to stay with family and friends as accommodations are extremely limited,' Lori Forbes, the emergency coordinator for the Rural Municipality of Kelsey, posted on social media. Evacuation centers have opened across the province for those fleeing the fires, including one as far south as Winkler, Manitoba, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the U.S. border. Evacuations that started earlier in the week for Pimicikamak Cree Nation ramped up Saturday, when five flights were expected to take residents to Winnipeg. 'The wildfire has crossed the main road, and the area remains filled with smoke and ash,' Chief David Monias wrote on social media. Winnipeg has opened up public buildings for evacuees as it deals with hotels already crammed with other fire refugees, vacationers, business people and convention-goers. The fire menacing Flin Flon began Monday near Creighton, Saskatchewan, and quickly jumped the boundary into Manitoba. Crews have struggled to contain it. Water bombers have been intermittently grounded due to heavy smoke and a drone incursion. The 1,200 or so residents of Creighton have also been ordered out, many of whom have gone to nearby Nipawin, Saskatchewan. In total, more than 8,000 people have fled wildfires in Saskatchewan. Canada's wildfire season runs from May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Climate
- Associated Press
Wildfires burning across central Canada force additional evacuation orders and more shelters to open
FLIN FLON, Manitoba (AP) — Roughly 17,000 residents in the Canadian province of Manitoba have been evacuated because of nearly two dozen active wildfires, officials said Saturday. More than 5,000 of those are from Flin Flon, where there is no rain in the immediate forecast. There have been no structure fires in the city located nearly 645 kilometers (400 miles) northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg as of Saturday morning, but officials worry that a change in wind direction could bring the fire into town. Manitoba declared a state of emergency on Wednesday as the fires burning from the northwest to the southeast forced evacuations in several communities in the province directly north of the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota. Smoke from the fires is being pushed south into some parts of the U.S., worsening air quality. Thousands have also been affected by wildfires in Saskatchewan and Alberta, with 1,300 people in the community of Swan Hills northwest of Edmonton forced from their homes. In northern Manitoba, fire knocked out power to the community of Cranberry Portage, forcing a mandatory evacuation order Saturday for about 600 residents. People living in smaller nearby communities were told to prepare to evacuate after a fire jumped a highway. 'Please start getting ready and making plans to stay with family and friends as accommodations are extremely limited,' Lori Forbes, the emergency coordinator for the Rural Municipality of Kelsey, posted on social media. Evacuation centers have opened across the province for those fleeing the fires, including one as far south as Winkler, Manitoba, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the U.S. border. Evacuations that started earlier in the week for Pimicikamak Cree Nation ramped up Saturday, when five flights were expected to take residents to Winnipeg. 'The wildfire has crossed the main road, and the area remains filled with smoke and ash,' Chief David Monias wrote on social media. Winnipeg has opened up public buildings for evacuees as it deals with hotels already crammed with other fire refugees, vacationers, business people and convention-goers. The fire menacing Flin Flon began Monday near Creighton, Saskatchewan, and quickly jumped the boundary into Manitoba. Crews have struggled to contain it. Water bombers have been intermittently grounded due to heavy smoke and a drone incursion. The 1,200 or so residents of Creighton have also been ordered out, many of whom have gone to nearby Nipawin, Saskatchewan. In total, more than 8,000 people have fled wildfires in Saskatchewan. Canada's wildfire season runs from May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months.
CBC
an hour ago
- Climate
- CBC
Sask. premier, public safety officials provide update as wildfires continue to rage
Premier Scott Moe will join officials from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) to speak to media at 1 p.m. CST Saturday on the current wildfire situation. Saskatchewan continues to experience one of its worst starts to the wildfire season on record. More than 533,000 hectares have burned in wildfires across the province so far this year. State of emergency declared in Sturgeon Landing The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation has declared a state of emergency for the community of Sturgeon Landing due to wildfires. It's issuing a mandatory evacuation order because of heavy smoke from a wildfire burning in Manitoba and the increasing threat to road access in and out of the area. The First Nation says all community members must evacuate immediately. It says evacuees must meet at the Wanless Store, which will serve as the staging area. From there, it says, a convoy will travel to The Pas with support from emergency personnel to ensure a safe evacuation. If anyone is evacuating by private vehicle, they are urged to follow the convoy and not travel alone. Wildfire smoke is also affecting other communities in the province, with air quality warnings in place for areas including Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert and Estevan. The province's largest fire, the Shoe fire, has burned 305,000 hectares which is about 13 times the size of Saskatoon. Smoke from that fire has been threatening communities, including the resort village of Candle Lake. The community experienced thick smoke over the last few days, but according to their latest update, the fire is "moving more slowly toward Candle Lake." "However, wind and weather conditions can change quickly, and our pre-alert evacuation and voluntary evacuation notices remain in effect," according to the update at 10 a.m. Friday. Prince Albert National Park limits access Parks Canada has issued a closure for areas within Prince Albert National Park due to the wildfires. It's restricting all backcountry areas in the National Park, Kingsmere Road west of Narrows Peninsula Trail. Elk Trail and the Valleyview network of trails, excluding the Valley View easy and moderate trails. All of Crean Lake, including Crean Kitchen campground and day-use area, excluding Hanging Heart Lakes. Visitors are being asked to respect the closures to reduce the risk of igniting new fires. Power remains out in northeastern Sask. communities. SaskPower said in an update that wildfire conditions are disrupting repair work for the outage in some northern communities. Crews have been forced to stop work in Deschambault Lake, Denare Beach, Pelican Narrows, Jan Lake, Creighton, and surrounding areas. As of Friday morning, crews had been unable to resume work in those regions safely. In La Ronge, Southend, Brabant Lake, and McLennan Lake, similar challenges are being reported. SaskPower said Friday that crews are en route to continue repairs to address the outage, but no estimated time of restoration is currently available due to the ongoing wildfire threat. Métis Nation–Saskatchewan declares state of emergency On Friday, the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) also declared a state of emergency, joining the provincial government as more citizens are forced to flee their homes with little or no notice. "These wildfires are spreading so unpredictably, and citizens are being evacuated with little or no notice and no destination in place. They're leaving behind their homes and their livelihoods with little more than uncertainty ahead," MN–S President Glen McCallum said in a statement. The MN–S government said it has mounted response teams to assist in fire zones, is providing culturally grounded services where possible, and is co-ordinating with provincial and federal partners to ensure Métis citizens have access to support. Federal response to wildfires Saskatchewan is under a provincial state of emergency due to wildfires. That means the province can access more resources and call for support from different levels of the government. Eleanor Olszewski, the federal emergency preparedness minister, said in an interview with CBC News Network on Friday that Manitoba has called for a 'request for assistance' from the federal government, but Saskatchewan has not made a similar request yet. She said that the Royal Canadian Air Force is helping those remote communities in Manitoba evacuate to Winnipeg. "I did speak with my counterpart, my provincial counterpart Tim McLeod, this afternoon and he advised me that the situation in Saskatchewan is manageable at the present time," she said. "In the event that federal resources are required, we're absolutely prepared to step up and help," Olszewski said.
