A wildfire, fuelled by hot, dry and windy conditions, tore through the Wendigo Beach area near Lac du Bonnet last week.

The blaze consumed 4,000 hectares of land, destroying 28 structures and forcing the evacuation of nearly 1,000 people. Two area residents, Sue and Richard Nowell, died after becoming trapped by the blaze.

Free Press photojournalist Mikaela MacKenzie visited the region on Friday, a day after residents were allowed to return.

All that remains is a charred wasteland.

Aftermath of an inferno In pictures: Wildfire destruction at Lac du Bonnet's Wendigo Beach By: Photography by Mikaela MacKenzie Posted: 5:00 PM CDT Friday, May. 23, 2025

wfpvideo:5S8IcsqJ:wfpvideo

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

Mikaela MacKenzie
Photojournalist

Mikaela MacKenzie loves meeting people, experiencing new things, and learning something every day. That's what drove her to pursue a career as a visual journalist — photographers get a hands-on, boots-on-the-ground look at the world.

Read full biography

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.