Signs of recovery and resilience

Cottage owner Jeff Oman was shocked and saddened when he laid eyes on the devastation wrought by a wildfire northeast of Lac du Bonnet in May.

The fast-moving blaze killed two people and destroyed more than two dozen properties, including his family’s lakefront cottage.

“As soon as you turned that corner, it was like total destruction,” Oman said of the day permanent and seasonal residents returned to the Wendigo Road area for the first time. “If anything was standing, it was charred.”

More than three months later, he is encouraged by signs of recovery and resilience.

“A lot of the cleanup is done. Some (residents) have new foundations in,” the Lorette resident said. “There are some that, I think, aren’t quite sure whether or not they will, but I think a lot of people are rebuilding.”

The Oman family hopes to have a new cottage built by the start of next summer.

Amid the recovery, Oman said people who lost homes or cottages in the Wendigo Road area are frustrated but hopeful lessons will be learned and improvements made.

He said there is no cellular coverage where his lot is located in the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet. He doesn’t think he would have received emergency alerts about the fire and evacuation on his mobile phone had he been there when the blaze started May 13.

Oman received the RM’s text messages while he was travelling for work.

He said cellular coverage must be expanded to eliminate gaps and help ensure residents receive emergency alerts, if registered for them. Any opportunities to improve the way people are notified should be pursued, he said.

Oman said a second entrance and exit to the cottage area is needed to prevent people from becoming trapped in a situation such as a wildfire.

The only way in and out is Wendigo Road, which has no entrance or exit on its east side in the Grausdin Point cottage area.

RM of Lac du Bonnet Reeve Loren Schinkel said three meetings have been held with Wendigo Road residents to discuss concerns and rebuilding efforts.

He said the RM’s emergency management department is “unpacking” issues that were brought up regarding emergency notifications, and will make recommendations to council.

Some of the issues relate to gaps in cellular coverage, which the federal government regulates, while some residents who registered for alerts did not enter a mobile phone number.

Similar concerns were raised after last week’s mass stabbing in Hollow Water First Nation, which has cellphone coverage gaps.

In response, Hans Parmar, a spokesman for Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, said cell tower projects, in general, are initiated and constructed by telecoms.

Ottawa has said it is working with telecoms and it has a number of funds to draw from to help expand coverage in rural or remote areas.

A spokesperson for Manitoba New Technology Minister Mike Moroz said the province is working with telecoms and Ottawa to improve and enhance cell coverage.

Schinkel agreed there is a need for a second exit on Wendigo Road. Discussions about a new road or an extension would have to take place with land owners.

RM residents Susan and Richard Nowell died after they became trapped by the fire. They were found just off Wendigo Road.

“Our community is still grieving and reeling,” Schinkel said.

The RM is hosting a fundraising social called Hearts & Heroes on Sept. 20 to recognize and thank everyone who was involved in the response to the fire. Funds will go toward local emergency readiness, fire-prevention initiatives and the Lac du Bonnet Fire Department, an event listing said.

Meanwhile, a mandatory evacuation order for Leaf Rapids, which is home to about 300 people, is scheduled to end at 7 a.m. Friday. Residents have been out of their homes since July 8.

Miles Bighetty, who works at Leaf Rapids Co-op, returned about three weeks ago to help prepare the store and stock food for residents.

He had to throw out his fridge and freezer because it contained rotten food, including meat.

Bighetty said a lot of work will take place when residents return.

“Houses haven’t been cleaned. There is a mess everywhere, with fridges and stuff,” he said.

Mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for Lynn Lake, Marcel Colomb First Nation and Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan).

The Manitoba Wildfire Service reported 132 active fires as of Tuesday. None were out of control. More than 2.1 million hectares of land has burned this season.

“The province has committed to a thorough review of its preparation and response to this unprecedented wildfire season,” a government spokesperson said.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca