What Premier Wab Kinew called a “challenging time” for the province of Manitoba has also helped out bring out the best in some of the province’s citizens.
The Premier offered an update on the wildfires raging through the province, and some words of encouragement during the Manitoba Day of Caring Radiothon, in which radio stations around the province banded together to help raise money for evacuees. As of 1:00, the total of money raised was just under $200,000. It was that sort of community spirit that came to mind first when he gave an update on the fires.
“In a community like Pukatawagan, where the wildfire was right at the community’s doorstep,” Kinew said, “those local firefighters were standing shoulder to shoulder with people from Carberry. To see Manitobans working together to keep Manitobans safe and communities safe is very positive given the circumstance. While it’s still a very serious wildfire situation, it’s thanks to those people on the front lines that we’ve been able to protect so many communities so far.”
The Premier offered some good news in that many of the wildfires are being held where they are, and some more rain in the forecast could help turn the tide. There are now 17,000 evacuees in the province, all of them no doubt looking for any good news and wondering the same thing: when will they be able to return home?
“It has to be about safety, first and foremost,” the Premier said of any potential return. “We’ve had some tragic situations this wildfire season, so safety has to be top of mind. I think, for the folks who are out of their homes, I can only imagine what it’s like wanting to return, but we are thinking of your safety first and foremost, and the safety of the wildfire fighters.”
Some of the stories coming out of the evacuating communities have ranged from heartbreaking to horrifying to incredible. From lines of cars stretching for miles as thousands of people flee south, to moments of humanity as people help one another, the wildfires have brought on an emotional time for the entire province.
“When you hear about the cancer patient on the Saskatchewan side of the border who was rushed out by Manitoban first responders and the Canadian military,” said the Premier, “and was able to get the cancer treatment they needed without any undue delay, you have to be thankful for the amazing professionals we have on the front lines.”
That emotional, challenging time has often shown Manitobans at their best. In addition to raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Canadian Red Cross and their Manitoba Wildfires Appeal, people around the province have opened their communities and given their time to evacuees.
“The generosity is never in doubt when you’re talking about Manitoba, but to see people step up really is something,” the Premier said. “I was at one evacuation site where hundreds of people showed up to set up cots, and it was quick work given the numbers. I was at another site where a different group showed up with 200 pizzas to feed people. And the patience of evacuees has been really inspiring.”
This unprecedented wildfire season, however, is not one anyone in the province wants to re-live. If Manitobans want to prevent another wildfire season like this one, looking after both equipment and personnel will be critical according to the Premier.
“The water bombers we’ve made a down payment for, we put $80 million down to get new water bombers in our fleet and we can’t get those soon enough,” he said. “For all the first responders and firefighters out there, thank you for what you do, and we’re going to need to take care of those folks and make sure their career is respected and they, on a personal level, are protected. We don’t want to see another season like this where every region of the province has been dealing with challenging situations, but the reality is we’re going to have to prepare.”
There have been a total of 111 wildfires in the province this season, 27 of which are considered active as of the most recent fire bulletin from the Provincial Government.
