People who were forced from their homes by a forest fire in eastern Manitoba say they are destroyed by the scale of destruction and loss seen in their very close community.
The fire in the rural municipality of Lac Du Bonnet has gained two lives and destroyed dozens of homes. Until Thursday, the 4,000 hectares fire was still considered out of control.
It is estimated that between 800 and 1,000 people were forced to leave their homes and cabins in the community, which is about 100 kilometers northeast of Winnipeg.
Michelle Potter and his daughter Emily were among the evacuees. She said her home survived, but everything around him was destroyed by fire.
The family saw houses in ruins and the remains of abandoned vehicles on the road while heading to a safe place on Tuesday.
“Many cabins have not even been rubble,” he said. “We are like this little pocket and we are fine. And then along the way, everything has gone.”
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The evacuees Michelle Potter and his daughter Emily Potter tell fleeing mortal forest fires in Manitoba. “There are not even rubble,” Michelle said. ‘I was afraid. It was extremely scary.
“It really feels like a miracle that the fire turned the direction and saved us,” said Emily Potter, who lives near his mother. “But it is really difficult to feel that we got a victory when there is so much devastation and lost lives and horrible things happening.”
RCMP announced Wednesday that they found the remains of a couple near Lac Du Bonnet who were trapped by the flames. Police said the first to respond could not communicate before due to the extreme conditions caused by the fire.
People in the area said Sue and Richard Nowell were well known in the very united community, and their deaths leave them disconsolate.
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The news of the death of two people from the RM of Lac Du Bonnet in a forest fire earlier this week has affected the community strongly. Prime Minister Wab Kinew said the deaths turned “an emergency into a tragedy.”
Shane McCoy lives near where the couple was found. He and his wife, Lydia, left their home on Tuesday after RCMP told them they had to leave.
“We have just followed the grace of God that we still have a house. The neighbors have not been so lucky,” he said. “There are enough neighbors who do not have a home to [come back] more. “
The RM of Lac Du Bonnet said the fire had destroyed at least 28 structures as of Thursday.
McCoy said that while the house is fine, he is concerned that the wind can bring the fire closer, as well as for the safety of his pet birds. He said he doesn’t know when he can return.
Michelle Potter is staying in Beausejour, while Emily is in Winnipeg. She said she never thought she would never ask if she could return to a house where she lived since the late 1980s.
Emily said her mother had to be dragged by her stepfather while trying to take all the photos of the wall from the wall and pack them.
“There are so many decades of memories of living there. I know it was very difficult for my mother to leave that place and not know what you are going back,” he said.
