The Manitoba Wildfire Service advises there is a low fire danger in the majority of the province, with pockets of moderate fire danger in the southern and central areas, and a mix of moderate and high fire danger in the northwest areas of the province.
The evacuation order for Cormorant was lifted on Aug 11. Evacuation orders for Kistiganwacheeng (Garden Hill Anisininew Nation), Island Lake (Stevenson Island) and Little Grand Rapids were lifted on Aug. 12, and evacuees have started to return home.
Manitoba Wildfire Service has cancelled all burn permits for the Burn Permit Area, with no new burn permits issued at this time. Land-based travel is permitted, unless closed by Parks or other closure orders. Those entering a fire boundary by aircraft will require a travel permit. To view active fire boundary maps, visit www.gov.mb.ca/conservation_fire/Fire-Maps/fireview/fireview_map.html. To apply for a travel permit, contact a Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures district office and visit www.gov.mb.ca/nrnd/co/index.html to find a location.
Manitoba remains under a provincial state of emergency, under the Emergency Measures Act due to a wildfire season that is now the worst on record in the past 30 years, with more than 1.75 million hectares (ha) of area burned in the province to date. The provincial state of emergency is in place until Aug. 22.
For updates on park closures, visit www.manitobaparks.com.
Fires of note
The Manitoba Wildfire Service continues to respond to 161 active wildfires across the province, bringing the total to 413 wildfires to date, well above the average of 320 fires for this time of year.
Fires of note include:
East region:
- Fire EA061 remains out of control at approximately 359,040 ha. A closure and mandatory evacuation order is in place for most of Atikaki Provincial Park, and the entire areas of Wallace Lake and South Atikaki provincial parks. While access to Nopiming Provincial Park has reopened, the fire continues to smoulder throughout the park.
West region:
- Fire WE017, located near Sherridon and the city of Flin Flon, is approximately 371,900 ha and is out of control. For the safety of personnel, boaters are asked to avoid waterways being utilized by Manitoba Wildfire Service tankers and aircraft.
- Fire WE025, located near Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan), is approximately 122,445 ha and is being monitored. The fire is contained around Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan) but a mandatory evacuation order continues.
- Fire WE028, located six kilometres (km) from Bakers Narrows Provincial Park, is approximately 7,190 ha and is out of control.
- Fires WE052 and WE089, located near Snow Lake are approximately 63,875 ha and out of control. A mandatory evacuation order is in place for the town of Snow Lake. A closure and mandatory evacuation order remain for Wekusko Falls Provincial Park.
- Fire WE085, located about 10 km from Cormorant, is approximately 4,560 ha and is out of control. The mandatory evacuation order was lifted August 11 and evacuees have returned home.
North region:
- Fire NO002, located near the town of Lynn Lake, is approximately 84,270 ha and is out of control.
- Fire NO042, located 12 km southwest from the town of Lynn Lake, is approximately 21,725 ha and is out of control. A mandatory evacuation order is in place for the town of Lynn Lake and Marcel Columb First Nation.
- Fire NO005, located near Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake), the Incorporated Community of Cross Lake, Jenpeg Generating Station and Whiskey Jack Landing, is approximately 179,510 ha and is out of control.
- Fire NO010, located near Tataskweyak Cree Nation (Split Lake), is approximately 25,225 ha and is out of control.
- Fire NO026, at the town of Leaf Rapids, is approximately 73,540 ha and is out of control. A mandatory evacuation order is in place for the town of Leaf Rapids.
- Fire NO047, located 25 km from the town of Leaf Rapids, is approximately 15,525 ha and is out of control.
- Fire NO061, located 14 km from the city of Thompson, is approximately 18,365 ha and is out of control.
- Fire NO079 located near Kistiganwacheeng (Garden Hill Anisininew Nation), is approximately 37,855 ha and is out of control. The mandatory evacuation order for Kistiganwacheeng (Garden Hill Anisininew Nation) and the Island Lake (Stevenson Island) area was lifted Aug. 12, and evacuees have begun to return home.
- Fire NO197 located nine km from Minithayinikam (St. Theresa Point Anisininew Nation), is approximately 150 ha and is out of control.
Information and resources for evacuees
The primary evacuation reception centre in Winnipeg is located on the third level of the RBC Convention Centre at 375 York Ave. Evacuees can attend this location to register with the Canadian Red Cross, and to access supports and services. Evacuees can also call 1 (800) 863-6582.
In response to the need for shelter for wildfire evacuees, Emergency Social Services continues to work with the Canadian Red Cross to operate congregate shelters in Winnipeg at the RBC Convention Centre at 375 York Ave and the Leila Soccer Complex at 770 Leila Ave.
For the safety of both evacuees and frontline and firefighting personnel, the province is reminding Manitobans not to enter areas under a mandatory evacuation until local authorities identify the situation is safe and evacuees are able to return.
The Manitoba Emergency Management Organization recommends evacuees leaving their communities due to wildfire bring their medications, identification, phone chargers, important documents, any needed baby supplies and a change of clothing.
