Wildfires in Manitoba have now pushed about 21,000 people out of their homes, prompting provincial officials to look for more hotel rooms to shelter them.
“This is one of the largest evacuations in our province’s history,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor, who’s also responsible for Manitoba’s Emergency Management Organization.
Earlier, officials prepared for about 17,000 evacuees, but that number was surpassed last week.
“For that reason, we are urging Manitobans and Canadians to reconsider non-essential travel and event plans within Manitoba.”
Naylor said the government recognizes the importance of tourism and the many workers whose livelihoods depend on that sector but putting off non-essential travel is one way to help ease the strain.
Emergency officials are working closely with businesses in the province’s tourism sector to secure the added hotel rooms, she said. The request to put off such travel is strictly voluntary at this point, Naylor said.
“Manitobans want to help. People have been asking us all the time, ‘How can we help?’ So this goes beyond a donation to the Red Cross or dropping off some clothes. It says I can help by not taking up a hotel room right now.”
The 21,000 figure is likely lower than the actual number of evacuees, as it includes only those who have registered with the Canadian Red Cross.
Not everyone has done so, so it’s difficult to know exactly how many there are, officials have said.
The largest fire, near Flin Flon and Sherridon, is approximately 307,781 hectares and remains out of control.
To provide context, the city of Winnipeg is some 46,000 hectares in size — so the fire area is approximately seven times larger.
The Nopiming fire, which stretches from Bird River to Bissett, is approximately five times the size of Winnipeg at 203,720 hectares.
Since May 1, conservation officers in the province have laid 74 charges and issued 28 warnings for wildfire-related infractions, said Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister for the Conservation Officer Service and Manitoba Wildfire Service.
That’s a jump of 59 charges in less than two weeks. The previous update given by the province, on May 28, was 15 people charged and 21 warned.
The charges are for things like entering a closed-off area or lighting a fire without a permit or against a ban, Hayward said.
“And I’m aware the RCMP has laid arson charges as well, but I won’t be able to speak to those,” she said — but none of those charges relate to any of Manitoba’s large fires.
The arson charges were laid in May, RCMP said.
One was against a 55-year-old man from Lake Manitoba First Nation who started a controlled burn that quickly got out of control and created a wildfire that spread to over 200 acres.
Another was against a 46-year-old man from Fort Alexander whose controlled burn also got out of control and resulted in damage to a residence and shed.
In Moose Lake (Mosakahiken Cree Nation), three girls, age 16, 13 and 12, were charged with starting grass fires that led to damage to several fences.
And in Easterville, First Nations safety officers found a spray can that had been converted into a homemade firebomb and thrown into the woods. It started a wildfire, but the flames were extinguished before they could spread. No arrests have been made.
There are 28 active wildfires across the province, 10 of which remain out of control. A total of 114 wildfires have occurred to date, well above the average total for this date of 99.
There are 24 local states of emergency across the province and 27 communities remain evacuated.
The fires are being fought and held on the flanks of populated areas.
The fire near Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan) hasn’t grown significantly, Hayward said, but the official size has been updated from 38,482 hectares to more than 55,000. It was recently remapped, giving it the larger size, she said.
Some rain fell in the province on the weekend but the amount — and therefore the effect — ranged greatly, Environment Canada reported.
Flin Flon had less than two millimetres over the past 48 hours, while Sherridon, just 60 kilometres to the northeast, recorded 14.7 mm.
Similarly, rainfall to the north and south of two fires around Pimicikamak Cree Nation and Cross Lake was hit-and-miss. Norway House to the south had 9.5 mm but Pisew Falls Provincial Park to the north had just 1.2 mm.
“The fires that we have in the region are pretty intense, so more than what we’ve seen, clearly, is what’s needed in the area,” said Environment Canada scientist Christy Climenhaga.
“A cooler, showery forecast that is a little more prolonged will definitely be a little more effective.”
The Flin Flon forecast is for a risk of a thunderstorm Monday evening, with showers ending late Tuesday afternoon, then no precipitation for the remainder of the week. Cross Lake and Pimicikamak could see a day of rain on Tuesday before things clear up for the rest of the week.
However, the extreme heat felt in the province this spring isn’t expected to continue this week, with temperatures forecast to be closer to normal for this time of year. For Flin Flon, that’s a high of 21 C, and for Cross Lake, 19 C.
“Any time we have a little bit of a break in the weather — lighter winds, lower temps or higher humidity levels — it certainly does help our efforts,” Hayward said.
However, it doesn’t mean the fire danger will radically change, she said.
“Rain really will touch the top layer of vegetation, and then as soon as any wind or heat comes, it evaporates. Underneath, there is still a lot of dry material with potential for ignition.”
Find the latest wildfire information at these sources:
Are you an evacuee who needs assistance? Contact Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or email [email protected].
