Forest fire hazard high in north

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/06/2010 (5806 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While southern Manitoba is drowning in rain, the province’s northern regions are suffering from the opposite extreme.

Hot, dry weather is causing a high forest-fire hazard and Manitoba Conservation has restricted travel for areas including Cranberry Portage, Flin Flon and Thompson and reaching to the province’s northern edge.

Due to the restrictions, 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.

There is now also a burning permit ban effective in the northeast.

Manitoba Conservation reports nine new fires have been observed since yesterday, though those are considered small.

A fire at Kisseynew Lake, near Cranberry Portage and Sherridon, continues to blaze and is now roughly 3,000 hectares in size. Twenty-nine Manitoba fire crews, aided by 10 from Ontario, continue to battle the flames.

Manitoba Conservation advises that the road between Cranberry-Portage and Sherridon is currently open to traffic.

For more information on the travel restrictions, visit the Government’s website.