‘Just go mom, just go’: northern Manitobans on the run from wildfires

Delaney McIntyre’s eight-year-old son, Noah, had one plea as they fled from a windswept wildfire that devoured trees and sent ash raining down on a northern Manitoba highway: “Just go mom, just go.”

The pair, who were house-sitting for a relative, were among those ordered to leave the Sunset Beach area of Clearwater Lake, north of The Pas, on Thursday, when an out-of-control fire, which had been detected earlier in the day, advanced toward homes or cottages.

“It was shocking, scary and unexpected,” McIntyre told the Free Press from her home in Opaskwayak Cree Nation. “You could feel the heat when you drove beside it.”

Video provided by McIntyre showed a wall of flames in a forested area, while dense smoke shrouded Provincial Road 287. Her son encouraged her to keep going as they drove past the blaze.

Alex Wilson drove the same route when she was forced to leave her home near Clearwater Lake at about 8:30 p.m.

“It was kind of ominous,” she said about the scene.

In separate phone interviews, Wilson and McIntyre noted how fast the fire had spread due to swirling winds.

Wilson, also a member of OCN, had a bag packed in case she had to leave. She is staying with a relative in The Pas. Some evacuees are staying in hotel rooms or camping trailers.

“Everybody is just kind of existing right now,” Wilson said. “Some are in shock. Other people are in survival mode.”

The wildfire, nearly 40 hectares in size, was one of five that continued to burn out of control amid tinder dry conditions in Manitoba on Friday, the province said.

Some homes have been destroyed by wildfires or grass fires this season.

The biggest wildfire, more than 21,000 hectares in size, was burning in an area west and northwest of The Pas, while also fanned by strong winds. It was first detected May 3.

Lori Forbes, emergency co-ordinator for the Rural Municipality of Kelsey, said the hamlet of Wanless, the east and north shores of Rocky Lake, and parts of Clearwater Provincial Park and Carrot Valley were evacuated.

OCN began an evacuation of the Watchi Bay area.

While there was no immediate threat to the town, The Pas declared a state of local emergency to ensure it is prepared to act if conditions change.

Forbes said the number of evacuees was close to 335, not including the Rocky Lake or OCN areas.

“The fire is still definitely very volatile and still moving. The wind has been just extreme,” she said. “If any homes have been lost, people have been notified.”

Premier Wab Kinew said firefighters from B.C. will travel to Manitoba to help local and provincial crews. He encouraged people to comply with burning or travel restrictions which are intended to avoid new fires.

“This weekend, we’re asking for you not to use any fires… even if you’re in a region and it’s not necessarily covered by a fire ban,” Kinew said.

Forbes said “a lot of tears” were shed after residents were forced to flee their homes.

“This is extremely emotional when the potential is so great to have some damage,” she said. “We’re making sure people are getting fed and have a place to stay, and we’re trying to provide as much comfort to them while they wait for updates every day.”

Schools in the region were closed. More than 1,000 Manitoba Hydro customers experienced power outages, the Crown corporation said.

Firefighters from Opaskwayak Cree Nation and The Pas were battling fires in the area, alongside the Manitoba Wildfire Service. Water bombers were aiding the battle. Sprinklers were being set up to protect structures.

“We’re just really being taxed,” Forbes said of the local departments, which continued to respond to usual calls such as house fires or vehicle collisions.

Residents of the region were hoping for rain and for the high winds to die down.

Wilson thanked firefighters, water bomber pilots, volunteers, municipal and provincial officials, and others who contributed to the firefighting effort.

Residents of the RM of Kelsey, OCN and The Pas came together to support evacuees.

The Pas resident Nancy Haner and her partner took in a friend who was among the Sunset Beach evacuees. She said many residents opened their homes or offered space to park camping trailers.

“They’ve kept people’s pets safe, if they have nowhere to take them,” Haner said. “It’s great to see everyone come together to help out as best as we can.”

In all, the province listed 18 wildfires as out of control, under control or monitored or held Friday. The cause of every fire was listed as “human.”

RCMP charged two men with arson for allegedly ignoring burning restrictions, which were in place in many municipalities, including Winnipeg, in a pair of fires Wednesday.

A 55-year-old man from Lake Manitoba First Nation allegedly started a controlled burn that got out of control and became an 80-hectare wildfire.

A 46-year-old man from Fort Alexander was accused of starting a controlled burn that damaged a home and a shed after getting out of control.

“These fires could have been prevented and should not have been started. Lives and communities are being put at risk,” Cpl. Melanie Roussel said in a news release.

New provincial restrictions began in some areas Friday, including bans on all motorized backcountry travel and all fires between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (fires are only allowed in approved campfire pits outside of those hours).

The Interlakes Reserves Tribal Council ended a state of emergency that was declared due to grass fires and forest fire potential in Lake Manitoba, Kinonjeoshtegon, Peguis, and Pinaymootang First Nations.

Extreme heat, dry conditions and strong winds have led to an early start to wildfire season, said Danielle Desjardins, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Parts of southern Manitoba could get rain or thunderstorms Saturday and into Sunday, she said. Fire-hit areas near The Pas could get rain Monday.

Desjardins said more seasonal temperatures are expected next week.

Parts of northwestern Manitoba remained under a special air-quality statement Friday. Winnipeg was temporarily included as smoke drifted across the province in the morning.

Desjardins said smoke is expected to affect central portions of the Prairies this weekend, unless new fires start in different areas.

People are encouraged to limit their time outside in areas with poor air quality, especially those with existing illnesses or chronic health conditions, seniors, children and pregnant women.

Adam Anderson of the Manitoba Lung Association said those with conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or COPD are at an elevated risk from wildfire smoke.

“Typically, it’s going to exasperate existing lung conditions or issues,” he said.

Anderson encouraged people to check air quality health index levels via Environment Canada or the Manitoba Lung Association website.

— with files from Carol Sanders

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.

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