Crews in, around, above Snow Lake win weekend battle with wildfire

Fire crews in Snow Lake managed to hold back flames that threatened the community over the weekend, as wildfires continue to burn out of control just beyond the town’s borders.

An update from the town Sunday night stated the fire, which covers 26,595 hectares, reached the community late Saturday night. The town of roughly 1,100 residents was evacuated for the second time this wildfire season on July 10.

“There was quite a lot of work that was done,” Snow Lake Mayor Ron Scott said, adding the fire had reached the golf course, the water treatment facility and the New Britannia mill, which handles gold processing for HudBay Minerals. “Despite a breach, they managed to beat it back.”

Crews worked through the night Saturday and into Sunday, with substantial air support helping to reinforce fire lines.

“Structure fire departments, wildfire crews, and (helicopter) buckets did a great job throughout the day and into the night protecting the town of Snow Lake and no structures were lost in the community,” an update from the town on Facebook said.

Scott said the town’s biggest concern on Monday was the wind, which was moving northwest at 40 to 45 km/h.

“That’s really going to spark that fire up again; so it’s going to be all hands on deck with everyone that’s fighting it up here,” he said.

He praised the work of firefighting teams from across Manitoba and around the world.

“Myself and everyone on council is extremely happy with the enormous amount of work that’s being done,” he said. “They’ve been working extremely well together. We’ve got crews from all over Manitoba, and the Manitoba Wildfire Service has crews from Mexico and elsewhere. (They are) well co-ordinated, well led. If things do get worse, it won’t be for lack of effort.”

Scott said officials are working to keep residents informed as the second evacuation stretches into its third week.

“Everyone just wants this to be over and get back home,” Scott said. “So there’s a lot of frustration and anxiety.”

Further north in Thompson, firefighting efforts are concentrated on the eastern flank of a wildfire north of the city, which has grown to 18,365 hectares.

“The Manitoba Wildfire Service reported today that Fire NO061 north of Thompson looks generally good as crews work along the eastern flank where it crossed the Burntwood River,” a Facebook post from the city said Monday. “That work will continue for two to three days, at which time the focus will switch to the southern flank.”

Thompson, home to 12,542 people, remains under an evacuation watch.

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Meanwhile, an 8,000-hectare wildfire threatening Leaf Rapids has shifted east, crossing Highway 391 near the north end of the town’s airport. Fir-protection measures were put in place at the town cemetery to prevent it from burning, according to another Facebook post.

“(Bull)dozers were used to create dozer lines to the north around the airport and protect Churchill River Lodge,” the post read. “Fire trucks and firefighters continue a 24-hour roving operation around town detecting and putting out hot spots.

“Rain is what is needed most, and the current forecast does not show any for the next few days.”

Residents of the town of about 300 were evacuated last week. Power, which had been knocked out at the firehall, RCMP station, and Co-Op cardlock, was restored over the weekend.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

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