Firefighters face 191 forest blazes in Manitoba

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This article was published 29/05/2018 (2944 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With five new fires that started Monday, Manitoba now has 191 fires burning — well above the 20-year average of 116 for fires to date.

Manitoba Sustainable Development, the Emergency Measures Organization and the Office of the Fire Commissioner are working on fires around the province, with 120 firefighters from Ontario and two water bombers from Quebec lending a hand, the province said in a news release Tuesday

Crews continue to battle the blaze between the Little Grand Rapids First Nation and the Pauingassi First Nation covering over 25,000 hectares and burning about four kilometres from Pauingassi. Some light rain has fallen on the area, which has helped the efforts, but the fire is still not under control. Crews have completed the work of setting up sprinklers to protect homes at both the Little Grand Rapids First Nation and the Pauingassi First Nation. Power remains out to the area and the evacuation order remains in effect for both communities.

The fires near Ashern, meanwhile, are considered under control, with crews staying in the area to monitor and address a few hot spots. Recent rain and high humidity have helped fire suppression efforts on fires near the community of Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, but the community remains evacuated.

A list of parks with campfire restrictions can be found at www.manitobaparks.com. Visitors to provincial parks should check with park staff for the most up-to-date information.

A map of affected areas and a detailed description of the provincial fire and travel restrictions can be found at

www.gov.mb.ca/sd/fire/Restrictions/index.html.

Local municipalities may also implement burning bans or fire restrictions. Check with local municipal offices or see

www.gov.mb.ca/wildfire/burn_conditions.html for more information.

For further general information on fire status, maps, burning permit cancellations or other restrictions go to

www.gov.mb.ca/wildfire/ or follow the Twitter account at www.twitter.com/mbgovnews.

To report a wildfire, call 911 or the T.I.P. line (toll-free) at 1-800-782-0076.