Lightning sparks dozens of new blazes in Manitoba

Lightning strikes have started dozens of new, predominantly small wildfires in remote northern and eastern areas of Manitoba, a map showed Monday while severe thunderstorms were possible in fire-prone areas.

The Manitoba Wildfire Service’s online map displayed 44 new fires between Friday and Monday, with lightning listed as the cause of all but three that were linked to human activity.

“Manitoba Wildfire Service has been deploying ground crews and aircraft as and when needed in response to these new fires,” a provincial spokesperson wrote in an email to the Free Press.

About 100 firefighters from Mexico were travelling to Manitoba on Monday to help battle fires, some of which have been burning for more than a month.

The crew, which departed from Guadalajara, comprises firefighters from several Mexican states, the country’s National Forestry Commission said in a news release.

Most of the new fires were a hectare or less in size and/or located some distance from populated areas in the north. A dozen were classified as out of control.

“With the heat and with the wind, any thunderstorm that is mostly lightning is going to be a major concern,” Snow Lake Mayor Ron Scott said.

Three small fires, all started by lightning, were located east of Snow Lake, but not immediately close to the town, which is about 690 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.

“We’re keeping a very close eye on that,” Scott said.

Snow Lake was evacuated for about a week in June due to a massive wildfire that forced thousands of Manitobans to leave multiple communities, including Flin Flon.

“We’re going to have to be very vigilant for the rest of the summer,” Scott said.

Severe thunderstorms were possible in fire-affected areas in the north on Monday, including Flin Flon, Lynn Lake, Mathias Colomb First Nation (Pukatawagan), Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) and Tataskweyak Cree Nation (Split Lake).

Lynn Lake remained under an evacuation alert due to a fire near the northwestern town. In a social media post, the town said strong winds and high temperatures could increase wildfire activity in the region.

Sprinklers were set up in some neighbourhoods, while ground crews and aircraft attacked hot spots.

Severe thunderstorm watches, issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada, were in place for parts the northern region as of Monday afternoon.

By then, lightning strikes had been detected in northern areas and some parts of the Interlake, meteorologist Crawford Luke said.

Eastward storms were capable of producing large hail, heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 100 km/h.

Thunderstorms are possible in some northern and southern areas, including Winnipeg, on Canada Day.

The wildfire service online map displayed 50 active fires Monday, including 13 that were classified as out of control.

They include a 370,781-hectare fire near Flin Flon and Sherridon that was first detected May 21, and a 251,684-hectare blaze — stretching from the Bird River area, through parts of Nopiming Provincial Park and to areas east of Bissett — first detected May 12.

The latter blaze, caused by a lightning strike, forced hundreds of people out of their homes and cottages, including some permanent and seasonal residents in the Rural Municipality of Alexander, about 100 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. Most of Nopiming is still closed.

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Alexander Mayor Jack Brisco said lightning is a concern because any new fires could put additional pressure on the wildfire service and local fire departments.

After careful consideration, the municipality lifted its fire ban Friday, Brisco said, but urged residents and visitors to remain cautious because Manitoba’s firefighting resources are stretched.

The decision was made after the province and other municipalities lifted their own restrictions.

“We take everything into account, and proceed with caution. Hopefully, people are like that, too,” Brisco said.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Chris Kitching
Reporter

Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.

Every piece of reporting Chris produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.