Firefighting help arrives from Quebec, more coming from U.S.; evacuees should expect to be away for weeks, Flin Flon mayor says 99 American firefighters, 24 support staff to be briefed in Winnipeg Thursday By: Chris Kitching Posted: 12:16 PM CDT Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2025 Last Modified: 11:10 PM CDT Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2025 Updates

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More than 150 firefighters from Quebec and the U.S. are joining the battle against massive wildfires in Manitoba, while some evacuees have been warned they could be displaced for weeks.

The reinforcements were welcomed by Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias, who is expecting 20 U.S. firefighters to arrive in the northern community Friday, along with a four-member crew and fire truck from Brokenhead Ojibway Nation.

“They are coming, which is really good news for us,” Monias told the Free Press Wednesday, while two fires burned out of control near Pimicikamak and Cross Lake. “It’s like we’re being surrounded by fire.”

Situation reports published by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre said 99 firefighters and 24 support staff from the U.S. were en route to Manitoba, which is under a provincewide state of emergency due to blazes fuelled by extremely dry conditions.

U.S. fire crews will report to Manitoba Thursday to be briefed in Winnipeg before heading out to their assigned fires, said U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman Larry Moore.

“We place crews where and when they are needed so those decisions will be made in real time,” a Manitoba government spokesperson said.

Quebec’s Forest Fire Protection Society said 60 firefighters and two support staff travelled to Manitoba Tuesday on a 14-day mission.

Local fire departments from across Manitoba have sent teams to the North to help protect communities.

The City of Flin Flon said up to 250 personnel are fighting a roughly 38,000-hectare fire on its doorstep. No structural losses have been reported within the city.

“They’re fighting fires right on the edge of town,” Mayor George Fontaine said. “They’re right in the thick of it. It’s a very tight situation… and it will be for some time.”

A mandatory evacuation of Flin Flon, home to about 5,000 people, was ordered May 28 due to the human-caused fire. The city informed residents Wednesday it could be some time until it is safe to return.

“Weeks is a minimum,” said Fontaine, who is among the evacuees staying in Winnipeg. “Please stay calm. Stay as comfortable as you can because you’re going to be out of your community for a while.”

“They’re right in the thick of it. It’s a very tight situation… and it will be for some time.”–Flin Flon Mayor George Fontaine

Glenboro-South Cypress Fire Department sent three members to Flin Flon Wednesday to replace a crew that headed north in a fire truck Saturday to set up sprinklers, extinguish hot spots and protect assets.

“The members in my department right now are glad to help,” Chief Steve Nelson said.

The Manitoba Wildfire Service reported 27 active blazes Wednesday, while most of the province remained under extreme fire danger.

Two people — Sue and Richard Nowell — died in a blaze northeast of Lac du Bonnet on May 13. More than 17,000 Manitobans, mostly from the North, have been displaced. Many are staying in hotels or shelters.

A dozen fires were out of control, including two that were detected May 20 and 21, respectively, near Pimicikamak and the incorporated community of Cross Lake. Both were caused by human activity.

Monias said south winds were expected to push one of the fires, which measured about 3,000 hectares, closer to the communities.

A Chinook helicopter dropped water on the blaze, which jumped from island to island, he said.

Monias, one of about 55 essential personnel who remained in the area, said he expects to relocate soon. The number of essential staff will rise when more firefighters arrive.

Highway 373, from Highway 6 to Norway House, which had been closed since May 27 reopened Wednesday, the province said.

One nurse and one doctor were among those who stayed behind when a mandatory evacuation began May 28.

Monias said six residents refused to leave, while about 7,500 people left Pimicikamak and 500 left Cross Lake.

Boats are on standby in case they or essential workers are forced to leave in a hurry.

A Canadian Armed Forces CC-130 Hercules flew the area’s final group of evacuees to Winnipeg Tuesday. CAF evacuation flights, by plane and helicopter, have moved more than 3,800 people out of northern communities since May 29.

Civilian aircraft have been used to move evacuees to southern communities. A Facebook post by Tataskweyak Cree Nation’s chief and council said flights were transporting evacuees from Thompson to Winnipeg and Hamilton, Ont., Wednesday.

The community of about 2,400 began an evacuation last week due to a blaze that is now almost 21,000 hectares.

Cooler temperatures and some rain helped slow the spread of a fire about 40 kilometres north of Snow Lake, said Mayor Ron Scott, a day after a voluntary evacuation notice was issued.

“We’re looking at, essentially, almost a wall of fire that is being pushed from the west to the east by northwest winds,” he said.

“We’re looking at, essentially, almost a wall of fire.”–Snow Lake Mayor Ron Scott

Snow Lake is home to about 1,100 people. Some decided to leave as a precaution when the notice was issued. The community is hosting some evacuees from Flin Flon.

Scott said Snow Lake’s last wildfire-related evacuation was in 1989, when the town was spared. He said a team is prepared in case the the fire moves closer.

“We’ll do our best to protect the community,” Scott said.

Hudbay Minerals Inc. said it has temporarily suspended operations at its gold, copper and zinc mine near Snow Lake. Essential staff will remain on site, the company said.

At nearly 200,000 hectares, the largest fire stretched from Bird River to Bissett in eastern Manitoba. Permanent residents of Nopiming Provincial Park have been displaced for more than three weeks.

The out-of-control fire, detected May 12, was started by a lightning strike, the Manitoba Wildfire Service said.

Larry and Leta Lee, who live year-round at Flanders Lake in Nopiming, have been staying in a Beausejour hotel since they were forced to leave the park shortly before it closed May 13.

Grateful to be in a safe place, Larry Lee described the hotel stay as a “boring and stressful” experience. Hotel staff have been wonderful, he said.

“We’re sort of all like family,” Lee said. “In disasters like this, we as a province, regardless of where and who we are, we seem to support each other.”

The province is covering the cost of the hotel room, food and some incidentals, he said.

The Lees have been passing the time with outdoor walks and day trips to nearby communities, when the air quality isn’t too poor due to wildfire smoke.

As for when they could be allowed to return home, they are hoping for good news soon. They know it could still be some time given the fire danger and any necessary repairs to power lines or equipment.

Some structures in the Beresford and Black lakes areas were destroyed.

When Nopiming reopens, residents and cottagers who have places to return to will have to replace fridges and freezers that are filled with spoiled food, Lee said.

He said he hopes the province helps to ensure the appliances are removed from the park when that day comes.

“There are going to be truckloads of appliances that need to be cleared out,” Lee said.

Nopiming has about 40 permanent residences.

All evacuees in the Municipality of Alexander, which includes Bird River, have returned home, but some areas remain under a two-hour evacuation notice in case the fire moves in their direction, Mayor Jack Brisco said.

Ground crews have been making progress on hot spots, he said.

“Mother Nature has helped out a lot. Although it hasn’t rained, the temperatures are lower, and the wind has been with us,” Brisco said. “Let’s hope it pours this weekend. When we have a good rain, that’s when the fire will go out.”

Manitoba has reported 111 wildfires this year, well above the average of 91 for June 4. The province cited human activity as the cause of 100 of the fires.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca