People of more than a dozen communities in Manitoba forced by forest fires This spring have returned or will begin to go home in the coming days, but officials warn that it does not mean that fires in the province are no longer a threat.
While some areas rained during the weekend that allowed firefighters to advance in a series of fires, the precipitation amounts vary, and the province hopes to see that the fires continue to actively increase in the coming days as certain areas dry.
“These are very large fires and do not extinguish,” said Kristin Hayward, Deputy Deputy Minister of the Service of Conservation and Service of Infire Westfire de Manitoba, at a press conference from Monday along with other officials of the Manitoba Legislative Building.
“They are not out and they will not be for some time. We are cautiously optimistic, but, of course, the situation can change, as the climate and conditions change.”
While some have gone home, the “vast majority” of forest fire evacuees remain displaced, with approximately 40 living in the Congregated refuge space in Winnipeg and approximately 150 in that type of accommodation in the city of Northern Thompson, said the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Lisa Naylor.
Naylor said the province is still working to find a hotel space for everyone.
“We do not want people in congregated shelters,” Naylor said at the press conference. “It’s not ideal. Families need some privacy.”
Until Monday, there are 18 burning fires through Manitoba, with seven of them considered out of control, said Hayward.
The total number of fires includes a couple of new ones that began in the last 24 hours, but they are currently not worrying, said Hayward, noting that a ray band also moved through Manitoba during the last 12 to 24 hours, leaving officials preparing for the possibility of newer beginnings and positioning of resources accordingly.
Manitoba has registered a total of 120 forest fires to date this year, more than the average of 104 fires for this time, the government said in a press release.
Since May 1, the Manitoba Conservation Officer Service issued 88 positions and 29 warnings related to forest fires, the province said.
‘People need to remain vigilant’
The number of evacuees registered with the Canadian Red Cross in Manitoba had reached approximately 22,000 until Monday, said Christine Stevens, Vice Minister Assistant of the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization.
There are still 24 local emergency states, with 25 communities still evacuated due to the threat of forest fires or the impacts of smoke, Stevens said at the press conference.
The communities that were allowed to start returning during the weekend included Cranberry Portage, Sherridon, Snow Lake, Herb Lake Landing, Payuk Lake and Twin Lake on Saturday, which totaled about 1,800 people, Stevens said.
Some people from the Misipawistik Nation Cree and St. Theresa Point First Nation were also allowed to start returning on Sunday.
On Monday, the people of the Grass River Provincial Park, Wasagamack and Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) are also expected to begin to return home, while the people of the Wekusko Falls and Bissett Provincial Park can start returning on Tuesday, Stevens said.
However, he said that the Pimicikamak area is a large community with more than 7,000 people who will now be allowed to go home, which means that it could take up to a week for everyone to return.
Look | Officials give updates on Manitoba’s forest fires:
The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Lisa Naylor, together with Kristin Hayward, Subd Vic Minister of the Service of Conservation and Service of Infire Wildfire de Manitoba, and Christine Stevens, Subdir Minister of the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization, give an update on the fite of the province.
He said that while the approach has focused on returning people home when there is a high level of trust, he will not have to leave soon, “I think we are all aware of the dynamic nature of this danger of forest fire in those situations.”
“Whether they are impacts on smoke on a community or fire behavior due to the worsening of climatic conditions, people must remain attentive and keep abreast of the risk around them, unfortunately.”
He added that conditions are evaluated daily to determine when other evacuated communities can also return home.
The fires are burned by Manitoba
Hayward also gave updates on a series of important fires that burn in Manitoba, including one in the western part of the province near Wanless, a man, which has now been considered under control.
But others remain out of control, including the fire near the city of Flin Flon along the border of Saskatchewan, which now has more than 370,000 hectares.
Hayward said there was “minimum accumulated precipitation” in that area during the weekend, so officials expect the fire behavior to collect there as early as Tuesday.
Another fire out of control in eastern Manitoba in the Nopiming Provincial Park area now has more than 218,000 hectares, although Hayward said the teams are making good progress.
Meanwhile, a fire in the Lake Northwestern Lynn area now has more than 71,000 hectares, with another near Jenpeg and Pimicikamak Cree Nation of more than 64,000 hectares. A fire in the area near Split Lake and TataskWyak Cree Nation has more than 25,000 hectares, he said.
Find the latest forest fire information:
Are you an evacuation that needs help? Contact Manitoba 211 Calling 211 from any place in Manitoba or email 211MB@findhelp.ca.
