’21 Whiteshell report warned of wildfire management risks, evacuation concerns

Manitoba officials were warned in 2021 about potentially catastrophic shortcomings in forecasting and communication about wildfires and evacuation protocols in Whiteshell Provincial Park.

Out-of-control wildfires prompted an emergency evacuation of Manitoba’s most developed park and surrounding areas last Thursday. The region remains under a local state of emergency.

Andy Dueck, a cottage owner in Pointe du Bois, said he’s upset by the province’s “poor job of updates,” especially given the revelations in a newly released report.

Last week, Dueck and his wife scrambled to evacuate their cottage and drove through heavy smoke along Highway 313, the only way out, to escape from a fire that had started 15 kilometres north, near Bird River.

“We have not been given any information as to water bombers and fire crews, fire position or the possible return to our cottage. That’s been disappointing,” he said Tuesday.

The former Progressive Conservative government contracted Forsite Consultants, a B.C.-based firm that specializes in forest management, to create a wildfire strategy for the Whiteshell.

The deep dive into emergency preparedness in the area found Pointe du Bois was one of three communities — Falcon Lake and Rennie were the others — considered most at risk of devastation by wildfires.

The other areas identified as having “elevated risk” were transportation corridors, West Hawk Lake, Star Lake, Brereton Lake, Red Rock Lake, White Lake, Big Whiteshell and Betula Lake.

The 70-page report was submitted to the province in April 2021.

The review noted the unique nature of the park, which has numerous residences and services in both isolated and developed areas and hosts an influx of seasonal visitors and related challenges.

“It is critical that transportation corridors remain open and safe for egress during wildfire events…. Any road closures from either traffic accidents or wildfire may result in large-scale entrapment situations leading to catastrophic events, including significant loss of life if evacuees become stranded,” the report states.

It included 10 recommendations to protect the park, its residents and visitors.

A spokesperson for Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie said the province has made progress on all but one of them — exploring controlled burning — to date.

The province has made strides to improve inter-agency communication, confirmed communication towers are fire-resistant and established a forest management plan within 20 kilometres outside the Whiteshell, among other actions, Bushie said.

Peter Brown has been waiting in Winnipeg since he and his wife were forced out of their West Hawk Lake cottage last week when the province shuttered the park due to the elevated wildfire risk.

Related Articles

Some Whiteshell cottagers allowed to return home

Nopiming blaze destroys family cabin a second time

Wildfire’s aftermath greets returning evacuees

Bear cub rescued from Lac du Bonnet fires dies

On the front lines of the wildfire battle

Relief, gratitude on faces of residents, workers allowed back in Falcon Lake area

Lac du Bonnet cottagers get first look at damage caused by wildfire

'Under a microscope': Cottagers call for wildfire management plans after fatal fires

Terrifying inferno threatens everything in its path including, hopefully, any remaining climate-change doubts

Brown said he figured their property, along Samsons Cove, would be among the first hit if the Kenora 20 wildfire — first sparked in Ingolf, Ont., about 14 kilometres east — began creeping westward.

From what he’s been able to gather, that hasn’t happened yet. But information specific to his area is infrequent and difficult to find.

“We’re in contact with at least a dozen cottagers right now trying to get little bits of information,” Brown said. “Some of these cottages have been in families for generations, and a lot of people have put blood, sweat and tears into additions and renovations. You’d hate to see the family cottage go up in flames.”

Brown said he’s hoping the province can provide more specific information.

Manitoba Parks has released regular fire update bulletins since several wildfires broke out across the province last week.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Head Start

Weekday Mornings

A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day.

Sign up for Head Start

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

In a statement, Bushie accused the Tories of failing to do key consultations on the 2021 Whiteshell Provincial Park Wildfire Management Strategy findings and implementing change.

“We take the increased risk of wildfires very seriously,” he said.

“(That) is why our current firefighting efforts include over 150 Manitoba-based firefighters, 104 out-of-province firefighters and 25 conservation officers utilizing 23 helicopters.”

The minister indicated there are also seven water bombers and four fixed-wing planes in use.

His office said that prior to the current outbreak of wildfires, the province was in the process of identifying “safety zones” — last-resort areas where residents could seek temporary shelter if roads were unsafe to use.

— With files from Carol Sanders

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Maggie Macintosh
Education reporter

Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Winnipeg Free Press. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative.

   Read full biography

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Several wise folks — ok, ok, journalism types — once told Scott he better make sure he can report on news before he learns to write about sports. In what can only be described as a minor miracle, he listened.

   Read full biography