The evacuation of a first nation of Manitoba forced by forest fires is increasing with larger airplanes that help and the reopening of the only community airport. However, there are concerns about the large number of residents still stranded days after they were ordered to leave.
Thousands of people have been waiting to be flying from Mathias Cree Nation, also known as Pukatawagan, since the mandatory evacuation order arrived on Wednesday.
The smoke of the out of control fires closed the only runway of the community on Thursday. With some planes limited to groups of between six and 13 people since then, community officials had said it would have been completed before the evacuation would be completed.
The airport reopened on Saturday morning after the smoke cleared enough to allow the airplanes to land, said chief Gordie Bear to CBC News.
“We will not leave you behind, but you must wait in line so that we can leave without a stampede, without fighting at the door to leave,” he said.
However, the track in Pukatawagan can only accommodate helicopters and light aircraft, excluding other military aircraft such as Hercules who can handle a greater number of people, Bear said.
“You can only do a lot,” he said.
The out of control forest, reported for the first time on Tuesday, had 9,785 hectares of approximately one kilometer from the community as of Thursday, according to The forest fire map of the province.
Look | Helicopters for evacuated Pukatawagan Earth in the PAS:
The helicopters took hundreds of people from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, also known as Pukatawagan, to Pas on Saturday, but hundreds of people remained in the community from Saturday night.
The double rotor Chinook helicopters of the Canadian forces were flying evacuated from Pukatawagan approximately 210 kilometers south until Saturday.
Bear said that some 500 residents were expected to be evacuated during the flight crews that limit the 10 -hour windows, they are scheduled for the day and the resumption of operations on Sunday morning.
“It is very difficult to talk to everyone in general, but nobody wants to leave,” said Bear. “These are not a vacation, they are entering a different environment.”
The evacuation is also bringing the trauma that some survivors of the residential school suffered after being removed from their community like him, said Bear.
However, the threat of the forest fire, combined with the air full of smoke and an energy cut means that everyone should leave, said Bear.
Daniel Bighetty and Linda Colomb say that when they left Pukatawagan on Friday, smoke was heavy enough to hide the sun. The first nation had also lost access to running water.
While it was a “relief” to go out in a small helicopter, Bighetty, who is a triple bypass heart patient, said he expected other vulnerable residents to soon be evacuated. also.
“There are many children who are under medical care, the elderly and heart patients,” he said. “It’s very smoked and it’s hot … here you can breathe better and it’s not so much anxiety.”
The Chinook Helicopters Canadian forces land in the PAS on Friday afternoon, more than 200 kilometers south of Pukatawagan, also known as Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, which is under an evacuation order due to a forest fire in the area. (Sent by Robyn Scott)
OPASKWayako Cree Nation, on the outskirts of the PAS, has established an evacueted center to help them make the transition to more permanent shelters in southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg and Brandon, said Diane Pelly, executive director of government services in the community.
“There is no place here in the north … to accommodate them,” he said. “Everyone is being tested with the support that is required, and unfortunately, it is moving to the south.”
Hundreds of evacuees came from Flin Flon on Wednesday. The next day, the center began to welcome people from Pukatwagan who have reached helicopters at Clearwater Lake airport in the PAS.
But in the process, he said that some families are losing tracking of their relatives, stimulating concern during an already stressful situation, he said.
“We are doing everything possible to move them as quickly as possible,” said Pelly. “There are still a lot of people who need to be transferred.”
A Via Rail spokesman told CBC around 120 evacuated from Pukatawagan and Flin Flon approached two trains in the PAS that left Winnipeg around 3:15 am on Saturday.
The evacuees and other passengers were expected to arrive at Winnipeg at 5:30 pm
Crown Corporation said they are helping with the evacuation at the request of the indigenous services of Canada, and will continue working with the government authorities if more assistance is needed.
Are you an evacuation that needs help? Contact Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from any place in Manitoba or send an email to 211mb@findhelp.ca.
