The Manitoba Wildfire Service advises there is a low fire danger in the majority of the province today and the status of five fires of note (EA061, NO005, NO026, NO042 and NO047) has changed from out of control to being held and fire NO002 is now under control.
Wekusko Fall Provincial Park will reopen for seasonal campers at noon on Friday, Aug. 22. Nightly campsites will remain closed for the season. The beach and boat launch in the campground will be accessible to day visitors. The walk-in tenting sites, suspension bridges and main boat launch remain closed as fire crews continue to stage in this area. For updates on park closures visit: https://gov.mb.ca/sd/parks/.
The mandatory evacuation order for Snow Lake will be lifted at 8 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 22.
As of Aug. 18, the primary wildfire evacuation reception centre in Winnipeg is now located at the Holiday Inn at 1740 Ellice Ave. The reception centre is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. until further notice. Evacuees can attend this location to register with the Canadian Red Cross, and access supports and services. Evacuees can also call 1-800-863-6582. The reception centre at the RBC Convention Centre is now closed.
With the low fire danger throughout the province, the Manitoba Wildfire Service will resume issuing burning permits for the Burn Permit Area effective Friday, Aug. 22. The Manitoba government reminds all Manitobans provincial burning permits are required for outdoor fires set within the burn permit area from April 1 to Nov. 15 annually. Permits can be acquired at Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures district offices. Provincial burn permits issued under the Wildfires Act may be cancelled or restricted at short notice if fire danger conditions require. The province will not issue burning permits for areas where municipalities have already implemented burning restrictions. To apply for a burning 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. The provincial state of emergency is in place until Aug. 22.
Fires of note
The Manitoba Wildfire Service continues to respond to 149 active wildfires across the province, bringing the total to 417 wildfires to date, well above the average of 338 fires for this time of year.
Fires of note include:
East region:
- Fire EA061 is approximately 359,040 ha and is being held. While access to Atikaki, South Atikaki, Wallace Lake and Nopiming provincial parks have reopened, the fire continues to smoulder throughout the parks.
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 126,070 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 4,570 ha respectively, and are out of control. The mandatory evacuation order for Snow Lake will be lifted at 8 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 22.
- Fire WE085, located about 10 km from Cormorant, is approximately 4,560 ha and is out of control.
North region:
- Fire NO002, located near the town of Lynn Lake, is approximately 85,690 ha and is under control.
- Fire NO042, located 12 km southwest from the town of Lynn Lake, is approximately 21,725 ha and is being held. 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 being held.
- 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 176,275 ha and is being held. 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 44,585 ha and is being held.
- Fire NO061, located 14 km from the city of Thompson, is approximately 22,520 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.
- 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
Evacuees can attend the primary reception centre in Winnipeg located at the Holiday Inn at 1740 Ellice Ave. to register with the Canadian Red Cross, and to access supports and services between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., seven days a week. Evacuees can also call 1-800-863-6582.
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.
