As the clouds of smoke begin to rise in parts of the province, Manitobans are learning about the devastation that remains following forest fires.
John Podworniak and his family lost their cabin of Lake Beresford due to the forest fire that is still burning in Nopiming Provincial Park. He said he saw aerial photos of the fire online, and had the feeling that his cabin was gone.
“I have been told that there is nothing left,” said Podworniak.
“We expect it, but it was difficult … you are numb by the news.”
Podworniak built the cabin himself and shared it with a friend. He spent years enjoying remote property and in front of the lake with his children and grandchildren.
“Taking the children there, they are swimming in the lake. We could go fishing and then they would go to the bow of the boat, they could jump into the lake.”
Podworniak said that the distance of the cabin will be lost, will spend time with his family there and enjoying the quiet moment away from the hustle and bustle.
“We were sure, so we are fine that way. We don’t have insurance in memories.”
Podworniak has not seen the cabin since the forest fire occurred, and is waiting until it is sure to visit it. The reconstruction is considering, but that will depend on how much damage was caused to the property.
Richard Loiselle’s family cabin was also destroyed by forest fires in Lake Beresford. It was a trunk cabin that his family had already rebuilt once, after losing a different cabin in the same place for the forest fire in 1983.
“My dad always said that something can be replaced,” Loiselle said.
“All our memories and all memories will stay with us. The photos will stay because we have copies, but things can be replaced.”
Loiselle said he was in the cabin a couple of weeks before the fire, making some repairs and preparing for another season at the lake. That was the last time he saw him.
“My older brother received a call last Friday from the province saying that the fire had passed (ours) subdivision of cabins … All cabins in our block, all have gone.”
Loiselle is not sure if he wants to rebuild, he will depend on how poorly affected the area and how much of the surrounding forest burned.
The Manitoba government said that around 20 structures have suffered damage to the Nopiming Provincial Park on Lake Beresford. 19 additional seasonal sites in Black Lake and Nopiming have been burned.
Until Wednesday afternoon, the province said that the fire in the Nopiming area was the largest that is currently burned in the province, with approximately 101,000 hectares. Mandatory evacuations remain in place for the park, as well as for Pointe du Bois, parts of the RM of Alexander, the Tanco mine and the Wallace Lake Cottage Association.
Insurance coverage available for forest fires
Rob de Pruis, National Director of Relations with the Consumer and the Industry in the Canada Insurance Office, said that the property insurance, business or standard secondary properties includes damage caused by fires, including forest fires.
“There are dozens of suppliers in Manitoba who offer insurance coverage for this type of event. Then, if it is a rental property, a secondary residence such as a cabin or cabin, there is an insurance coverage available for fire.”
De Pruis said that insurance premiums can rise where there is a higher risk of forest fires, but premiums can be reduced if they have installed sprinkler systems.
“In forested areas, Wildfire is one of the biggest risks, so it can pay a little more than an area that does not have that same type of fire risk coverage,” De Pruis said.
Family cabins in Nopiming Provincial Park have been destroyed by a massive forest fire. With the closed park and the still burning fire, people are waiting for the opportunity to see the damage for themselves.
