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Northern forest fire forcing evacuations
CREDIT MANITOBA CONSERVATION FIRE PROGRAM Enlarge Image
Half a dozen people were moved from the community of Cormorant, about 80 kilometres northeast of The Pas, due to potential respiratory effects from forest fire smoke, the province says.
WINNIPEG -- A continously raging forest fire in northern Manitoba has forced the evacuation of six people from one town, while another remains on standby to evacuate.
Half a dozen people were moved from the community of Cormorant, about 80 kilometres northeast of The Pas, due to potential respiratory effects from the smoke, the province says. Cranberry Portage residents are on standby to evacuate as well, while the Iskwasum and Gyles campgrounds in the Grass River Provincial Park are also under mandatory evacuation.
Reduced visibility in the area forced the closure of a handful of roads. The road between Cranberry Portage and Sherridon is closed, with local access only. PTH 39 between PTH 10 and the Snow Lake junction is also closed.
The sprawling, 10,000-hectare fire at Kisseynew Lake continues to burn out of control because of extremely dry conditions, low humidity and strong, gusting winds, the province says. The fire was reported at only 3,000 hectares in size yesterday. The province is fighting the inferno with 29 firefighting crews, 11 helipcopters, and eight water bombers. Fire crews from Ontario and Minnesota are also helping.
Manitoba Conservation has increased travel restrictions to include north of The Pas. Restrictions were already in place for Cranberry Portage, Flin Flon and Thompson, and reach to the province's northern edge. Northern back-country travel is only allowed by permit (camping outside an established campground is not allowed) and boat or canoe travel must be along developed shorelines only.
Recent restrictions in Manitoba's northwest cancelled burning permits and banned open fires everywhere, including campgrounds. Timber-harvesting and tree-planting operations have been suspended and mining companies are required to have water sprinklers at their work areas.
Conservation reports 15 new fires have been observed since yesterday, though none are threatening homes or property or appear to pose any concerns at this time.
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