The Manitoba Wildfire Service reports Manitoba remains in a provincewide state of emergency due to spreading wildfires, with the majority of the province under extreme fire danger. Human activity continues to significantly contribute to Manitoba’s current wildfire situation. While some precipitation (three to 10 millimetres) is expected across northern Manitoba, it will not be enough to contribute significantly toward wildfire suppression efforts and also comes with the risk of lightning starts from thunderstorms.
The evacuation of Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan) is now complete. Government of Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces continue evacuation efforts for Pimicikamak First Nation and Cross Lake, with multiple agencies participating in the response along with community members and the local fire department.
Manitobans are urged to continue to carefully follow all fire and travel restrictions. Level 3 fire and travel restrictions are in place across much of the province including all provincial parks and all burn permit areas (areas 1 to 22). Backcountry travel is prohibited without a permit. A full burn ban is in place. Campfires are prohibited even in approved pits. Full details on fire and travel restrictions for provincial parks and burn permit areas, along with municipal burn bans can be found at www.manitoba.ca/wildfire/#travel_restrictions.
Manitoba Parks advises an evacuation order and closure is now in place for Grass River and Wekusko Falls provincial parks. These parks are closed to all park users including campers, commercial operators, and day visitors. Campgrounds at Gyles Lake, Iskwasum Landing, Reed Lake and Wekusko Falls are closed until at least June 19.
In Whiteshell Provincial Park, additional areas reopened today for permanent residents, cottagers and commercial operators at Caddy Lake and West Hawk Lake. Closures remain in effect for Caddy Lake blocks 1, 2, 5 and the public boat launch at block 4. The Caddy Lake tunnels remain closed. Big Whiteshell, Crowduck, Nora and Florence lakes remain closed.
Campgrounds at Brereton, Caddy, West Hawk and White lakes will reopen for seasonal and nightly campers on Friday, June 6 at 4 p.m. Campgrounds at Big Whiteshell Lake will remain closed until at least June 19.
A number of provincial parks remain closed. Trails and water routes are closed in all provincial parks. Check www.manitobaparks.com for details.
The Manitoba Wildfire Service continues to respond to 27 active wildfires across the province, a total of 111 wildfires to date, well above the average for this date of 88 total fires. Fires of note include:
East region:
- Fire EA061, stretching from Bird River to Bissett is 197,955 hectares (ha) and remains out of control. Provincial Road (PR) 315 is closed at the Tanco Mine north of Bird River area, with no travel beyond that point to Nopiming Provincial Park and onward up to PR 314 and Bissett. A mandatory evacuation order continues for Bissett and Nopiming Park.
- Fire EA063, located on the Ontario border near Ingolf, is out of control at approximately 5,060 ha on the Manitoba side of the border and approximately 31,300 ha in Ontario. This fire originated in Ontario and is numbered there as KEN#020. An evacuation order continues for parts of the Whiteshell Provincial Park.
West region:
- Fire WE017, located near Sherridon, is 112,185 ha and out of control. A mandatory evacuation order continues for Sherridon and a voluntary evacuation alert is currently in place for Snow Lake.
- Fire WE021/26, located near Easterville, is approximately 35 ha and is under control.
- Fire WE023, located eight km from Wanless, is approximately 3,800 ha and out of control. A voluntary evacuation order is in place for Wanless.
- Fire WE024, located near Flin Flon, is 37,959 ha and out of control. A mandatory evacuation order continues for the Big Island, Schist Lake, Little Athapapaskow cottage area, Bakers Narrows, and the City of Flin Flon.
- Fire WE025, located near Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan), is 9,785 ha and out of control. A mandatory evacuation order continues for Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan).
- Fire WE028, located 10 km from Bakers Narrows, is approximately 3,000 ha and out of control.
North region:
- Fire NO002, located near the town of Lynn Lake, is out of control and approximately 67,000 ha. A mandatory evacuation order continues for the Town of Lynn Lake and Marcel Colomb First Nation (Black Sturgeon).
- Fire NO005, located near Jenpeg Generating Station and Whiskey Jack Landing, is approximately 3,300 ha and out of control.
- Fire NO006, located five km from Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) and the Incorporated Community of Cross Lake, is 2,287 ha and out of control. A mandatory evacuation order continues for Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) and the Incorporated Community of Cross Lake.
- Fire NO007, located two km from Wabowden, is 88 ha and is under control.
- Fire NO010, located near Tataskwayak Cree Nation (Split Lake), is 20,947 ha and is out of control. A mandatory evacuation order continues for Tataskwayak Cree Nation (Split Lake).
Congregate shelters have been set up in Winnipeg, Thompson, Winkler, and Portage la Prairie. Provincial emergency social services (ESS) are working with partners to ensure people evacuating from northern Manitoba are able to find shelter. All evacuees who do not have a place to stay are asked to proceed to the reception centre staffed by ESS and the Canadian Red Cross at Billy Mosienko Arena, 709 Keewatin St., Winnipeg. This centre will be open 24 hours until further notice.
All evacuees are encouraged to register with the Canadian Red Cross as soon as possible. Registration can be done online at www.redcross.ca/2025manitobawildfires or by calling 1-800-863-6582 (toll-free) between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. CST. If it is necessary for the Canadian Red Cross to contact evacuees, the contact information provided upon registration will be used. An email address allows the Red Cross to communicate more quickly and provide information to evacuees.
As of June 2, the Canadian Red Cross has registered more than 14,300 people from over 5,400 households evacuated due to the wildfires in Manitoba. This includes people from approximately 2,400 households on behalf of Indigenous Services Canada and 3,000 households on behalf of the Province of Manitoba.
Registering ensures the province can allocate supports where they are most needed. In addition, it allows people to be contacted while away from home about information on services and assistance that may become available to them during this difficult time.
The Manitoba government and Indigenous Services Canada are partnering to provide financial support for households evacuated from their community or First Nation due to the Manitoba wildfires. The program will provide financial support to people whose primary residence is in a community or First Nation under a mandatory evacuation order and will ensure equity of access across First Nations and non-First Nations communities. More information will be made available as program details are finalized.
The public is advised that while donations and public support are appreciated, it should be co-ordinated through official channels, as the evacuation centres are not set up to receive them and unco-ordinated drop-offs take staff away from their primary focus of helping evacuees. The Canadian Red Cross is accepting cash donations. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has set up a collection hub for donation items at the RBC Convention Centre, 375 York Ave. Winnipeg. The Southern Chiefs Organization and the Manitoba Metis Federation are also co-ordinating collection drives, please visit the organizations’ websites for more information.
Information about health supports for evacuees, including mental health resources and Indigenous wellbeing supports, is available through Shared Health at https://sharedhealthmb.ca/news/wildfire-updates/. For general health care information in Manitoba or for information about a loved one who may have been relocated from their personal care home or hospital, call Health Links-Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257 (toll-free).
Evacuees in congregate shelters with health concerns can speak with onsite health care providers who can help with medical concerns, new prescriptions and renewals, as well as mental health and addictions concerns. Evacuees are encouraged to visit a health information table at the site for additional support.
In eastern Manitoba, some residents are allowed to return home but a significant wildfire threat remains. The province advises all returning residents must be prepared to evacuate with little notice and should prepare an emergency go kit. More information on emergency preparedness, including what to include in an emergency go kit, is available at www.gov.mb.ca/emo/guide/individuals.
Evacuees who need help connecting with supports while they are evacuated can contact Manitoba 211 for assistance by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or emailing 211mb@findhelp.ca. For more information, visit https://mb.211.ca/get-help-now/.
Smoke and fires are impacting road conditions as well, check MB511 at www.manitoba511.ca for the latest road conditions and closures.
The Manitoba government’s provincial state of emergency, under the Emergency Measures Act, is in effect until June 26.
Many municipalities have proactively implemented burning restrictions this spring, so check with the local municipal office or view the interactive burning restrictions map at www.manitoba.ca/wildfire/burn_conditions.html for more information. No burning permits will be issued for areas within or bordering any municipality where burning restrictions are already in place. The current provincewide ban is for provincial lands and does not include federal land or municipalities. Manitoba municipalities are responsible for the implementation and maintenance of their local burning restrictions and are asked to contact the Office of the Fire Commissioner from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at firecomm@gov.mb.ca when implementing or changing the status of its municipal burning restrictions. Visit the Municipal Burning Restrictions Map at www.gov.mb.ca/wildfire/burn_conditions.html for more information.
For further information on the Manitoba Wildfire Service, situation updates, restrictions and other important wildfire links, go to www.gov.mb.ca/wildfire or follow the Manitoba government on X (formerly Twitter) at https://twitter.com/mbgov.
To report a wildfire, call 911 or the TIP line toll-free at 1-800-782-0076.
