Wind-whipped wildfires in eastern Manitoba force multiple evacuations, provincial park closures

Eastern Manitoba’s wildfire situation worsened Tuesday as four provincial parks closed and multiple areas were evacuated due to new or ongoing fires that were fanned by strong winds.

States of local emergency and evacuation orders were declared for Nopiming, Wallace Lake, South Atikaki and Manigotagan River provincial parks, while areas of Whiteshell Provincial Park and homes northeast of Lac du Bonnet were evacuated.

“We drove through fire on both sides of the road. It was a little scary,” said Angie Sabourin, a permanent resident who, along with her dog Finn, had to leave Bird Lake in Nopiming.

“There was a trail of us, with a (Manitoba) Parks vehicle leading and RCMP. It got to a point where I could barely see the truck in front of me because of the smoke.”

The province ordered all permanent residents, cottagers, resort and lodge owners, back-country users and campers to leave Nopiming, Wallace Lake, South Atikaki and Manigotagan River by noon. A similar order was issued for parts of the Whiteshell for 5 p.m.

About 40 permanent residents in Nopiming, plus many more seasonal residents, were affected, Premier Wab Kinew said during question period at the legislature.

An out-of-control fire in the area grew to 5,000 hectares after starting Monday, the Manitoba Wildfire Service said. Lightning was the suspected cause.

Sabourin said officials were concerned that a separate fire burning along the Manitoba-Ontario boundary could advance toward the area.

“It got to a point where I could barely see the truck in front of me because of the smoke.”–Angie Sabourin

“If it gets in behind and comes up, we’re all trapped,” said Sabourin, who is staying with family in Pinawa.

Ontario’s government said the blaze, which started in that province Monday before moving into Manitoba, measured 8,000 hectares. The fire prompted evacuations in the Whiteshell.

In the south Whiteshell, the order applied to Caddy Lake blocks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and Green Bay Resort; McDougall’s Landing, Big Island Landing and Indian Bay at West Hawk Lake; and Florence Lake, Nora Lake and Ophir Siding.

In the north Whiteshell, Crowduck Lake and camp, and all cottage blocks and campgrounds at Big Whiteshell Lake were evacuated.

Earlier, the Mantario Trail, the Whiteshell River self-guiding trail and the water routes, portages and back-country campsites along the river and Mantario area from Caddy Lake to Lone Island Lake were closed.

Four water bombers and ground crews were attacking a new fire that spread quickly in the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet, which declared a state of local emergency, Reeve Loren Schinkel said.

Evacuation orders were issued to an estimated 150 homes, including Wendigo Road and the Granite Hills and Cape Coppermine subdivisions amid a “disastrous situation,” Schinkel said.

“It jumped a water-filled ditch, with the dry conditions and particularly the winds,” he said. “It’s still moving very rapidly.”

Schinkel did not yet know if any homes were destroyed or damaged. About 200 customers were without power, Manitoba Hydro said.

Wildfire smoke prompted an air-quality warning for some eastern communities.

Officials and residents who spoke to the Free Press thanked firefighters and others involved in efforts to combat wildfires and support evacuees.

The Manitoba Wildfire Service reported 24 fires that were out of control, under control, being held or being monitored. The cause of all but one were human in nature, the service reported.

The largest fire, at more than 40,000 hectares, has been burning west and northwest of The Pas since May 3. Firefighters from B.C. helped battle the blaze.

Out-of-control fires were also burning west of Libau and southeast of Woodridge.

The latter fire prompted the RM of Piney to declare a state of local emergency and evacuate some areas, including Carrick and St. Labre.

Some homes and cottages in the Bird River area, northeast of Lac du Bonnet in the Municipality of Alexander, were still evacuated Tuesday due to a fire in that area.

“The fire is moving away. There is still a chance that if the winds change, it could come back,” said municipal emergency co-ordinator Dave Koltun.

Tinder-dry conditions, extreme heat and strong winds contributed to Manitoba’s severe fire risk. Complete or partial fire bans are in place in many municipalities.

“We have never, ever hoped for a cold and wet May long weekend, but we’re praying for a lot of rain, and that the winds don’t get worse,” said Dorian Senkow, whose family has a cottage at Bird Lake in Nopiming.

She wasn’t there when the evacuation order was issued. She feared a change in the wind’s direction could put the area under greater threat.

“In the past few years, this is the worst we’ve ever seen it,” she said of the fire situation. “It’s definitely scary this year.”

Lisa Naylor, the minister responsible for the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization, said the government was ready for fire season.

“It’s been a very big hit with how hot it’s been and how dry it’s been,” she said at an unrelated news conference. “I wouldn’t say it’s a surprise, but I’d say that it has been a lot of fires all of that same time.”

A water bomber from Ontario has joined the fight, Naylor said.

In question period, Tory MLA Konrad Narth, whose constituency includes fire-hit areas in Piney, asked why EMO operating funding was cut by about $1.7 million this year. Kinew accused Narth of “misstating” facts regarding the wildfire fight.

“This is an on-demand service. Nothing will stand in the way of us saving lives and livelihoods across the province,” the premier said.

A heat warning remained in effect Tuesday as temperatures climbed into the mid-30s for the third consecutive day.

They are set to nosedive over the long weekend, when highs of about 5 C are expected in southern areas Saturday.

“By the time we get to Friday, we are in much cooler conditions, even cooler than seasonal,” said Natalie Hasell, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

The long-term forecast is predicting rain at times between Wednesday night and Saturday. Some places, including Riding Mountain National Park, could get snow Friday night or Saturday.

“Hopefully, that (precipitation) will make a difference to the fire season,” Hasell said.

— With files from Maggie Macintosh

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca