A first nation in Manitoba has declared an emergency state and another has closed its airport evacuation as forest fires continue to devastate communities in the north of the province.
Thousands of residents were stranded in Pukatawagan, also known as Mathias Colomb, after the nearby fire closed its airport around 6:30 pm CT on Thursday, said the head of the first nation.
The airport closed when the winds pushed the smoke west towards the airfield, said chief Gordie Bear in a phone call with CBC News on Thursday.
Bear said that around 2,000 people remain in Pukatawagan, which is about 700 kilometers northwest of Winnipeg. It is among the communities of northern Manitoba under an evacuation order since Wednesday, when the Manitoba government declared an emergency state throughout the province due to forest fires throughout the region.
“I listen … now there are helicopters, that the smoke has wrapped to the airport,” said Bear. He headed to the Pas from Winnipeg to meet the evacuees who recently arrived there.
“Now we are desperately. It is getting harder. We will go to the lake … shortly if it is nothing, if nothing takes the flame.”
The fire near the community had a size of approximately 9,800 hectares and was out of control from the last update of Manitoba on Thursday afternoon. The forest fire map of the province showed the fire just over a kilometer from the airport until Wednesday.
Venessa Hart was still in Pukatawagan on Thursday night. She said the airport and the surrounding areas were evacuated in case the fire extends that way.
“Airplanes will not be able to land in this thick smoke,” he said, added that the fire is not far from the community itself.
“How are they going to get us now?” Hart said.
“I am afraid. I am really scared. My anxiety is in the clouds. There are still more than 2,000 members of the community here, as especially women, children and babies, elderly.”
Bear said that some 200 residents were evacuated from the community before Thursday closing to the last staff.
Rashelle Colombian landed in Brandon on Thursday night. She said her partner is a driver of the medical truck and that she will probably be one of Pukatawagan’s last residents to leave.
“While we were flying, you could see the flames and how close it is arriving at the airport,” Colombia said.
“My daughter, when [she saw] The flames, she began to cry, asking her father … hopefully everyone leaves in time. “
Emergency state declared in Tataskweyak
Meanwhile, Tataskweyak Cree Nation, more than 300 kilometers east of Pukatawagan, said in a Facebook post at 6:20 pm CT that was declaring an emergency state, with a fire just one kilometer from the community, after it lost energy just before 5:30 pm
The first nation said in a Facebook publication that energy restoration can take a couple of days. Evacuation orders for children under one, elderly and health patients have been issued, said the position.
Chief Doreen Spence said the fire was about 200 hectares from the dawn on Thursday night. She said that around 200 people from some 2,400 residents had been evacuated from the community.
A section of the provincial road 280 that goes from the nearby Thompson to Gillam has been closed due to the fire in the area. Spence said the closure means that some residents who were in Thompson for medical appointments or other reasons have also been forbidden to return home.
“I don’t know what will happen the next time,” he said. “Obviously we need additional candles, flashlights. We need generators because many people are worried about their spoiled food.”
Jenpeg’s evacuation will not affect customers: Hydro
Manitoba Hydro said Thursday afternoon that he is also monitoring conditions at the Jenpeg Generation Station, which is about two kilometers south of the forest fire that has forced the evacuation of the Nation Pimicikamak CREE, also known as Cross Lake.
That fire was approximately 3,920 hectares from the last bulletin of fire.
Look at the air view of the Pimicikamak fire:
The head of Pimicikamak Cree Nation, David Monias, published this video, taken from a helicopter flying over the community, Facebook Thursday. It shows the forest fires that fill the sky with smoke around the community. There is no sound in the video.
The public services company said that Jenpeg was under maintenance and did not generate electricity, so forest fires and the evacuation of hydroelectric employees will not affect customers.
Hydro said there were other interruptions. Probably related to fire, in Lynn Lake and Sherridon, with fire and smoke conditions that prevent the crews from evaluating the damage. Both communities are also under evacuation orders.
Manitoba imposing travel restrictions
Meanwhile, the Manitoba government is imposing travel restrictions throughout the province, saying that in its last human activity of the Fire Bulletin continues “contributing significantly” to forest fires.
Hiking routes and water routes in all 22 areas of burns permits in the province will be closed from 8 in the morning on Friday.
The boats will be limited to landing and launch only on the coast developed, and the camp will also be limited to developed camps.
All burns permissions are canceled, although burning exceptions can be made for agricultural and agricultural purposes with the inspection of an officer. Conservation officers can also issue travel permits for unattended or non -recognized road trips if necessary for industrial operations, depending on fire risk conditions.
Are you an evacuation that needs help? Contact Manitoba 211 Calling 211 from any place in Manitoba or email 211MB@findhelp.ca.
