Thousands flee as second wildfire evacuation order issued for Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation

Thousands of people are evacuating Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation as wildfires impact air quality and threaten the only road in and out of the community.

As of Monday morning, around 1,500 people had evacuated and the remaining 2,000 of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation’s on-reserve population were preparing to leave, many coming to Winnipeg to stay at the RBC Convention Centre congregate shelter, said deputy chief Marcel Moody.

“We called for a total evacuation of our people in our community because there’s so much smoke and there’s a lot of fire surrounding our community, and we only have one single access road out of NCN. If it’s blocked, we’re going to be trapped,” he said.

A precautionary evacuation for high-priority members began Saturday and a full evacuation order was issued Sunday by Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, also called Nelson House.

An update posted on Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation’s social media Monday afternoon said Manitoba wildfire crews had identified several new fire starts Sunday, possibly due to lightning in the area several days prior.

One fire in the area, described as “extreme” and spanning over 40 kilometres, is expected to flank along Highway 391, which is currently restricted to essential vehicles and evacuees.

“Suppression options remain limited, but a three-day window of southerly winds starting today may offer tactical advantages,” the update reads.

“Given the proximity to Nelson House and the city of Thompson, the potential for damage is significant and should not be underestimated.”

In early July, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation issued an evacuation order for high-priority residents, including some elders, people with serious illnesses and children with complex medical needs. Moody said some of those people have not returned to the community since.

“There’s so much smoke in our community all the time… Sometimes we can’t even see across our neighbour’s yards, it’s crazy,” he said. “It’s been so dense, and I don’t know how people are going to be affected by this long-term.”

Crews will also maintain feeding sites for the 3,000-plus dogs living in the community. A notice issued by Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Monday afternoon asked that evacuees release any dogs from fenced yards and that any dogs left behind by evacuees would be released.

Meanwhile, in Winnipeg, some fleeing the wildfires say the congregate shelter set up by the province leaves much to be desired.

Irene Spence arrived at the RBC Convention Centre Sunday night after a nine-hour drive from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. She said she had to wait several hours just to get a cot, and other members of her reserve were left waiting in hallways for longer. When she was able to get to a cot, she said the room was freezing cold, pitch dark, and cramped.

“It’s so uncomfortable, it’s cold at night and … (I wish), at least, they would have given a little mattress with the cot. They put plastic on these cots, and then the plastic is sticking to your skin,” she said.

She left the convention centre to visit family in Winnipeg Monday. She’s not sure if she’ll go back or find other accommodation, but wonders why the province wasn’t able to put more people up in hotels.

“There’s too many people. There’s no privacy, your stuff is exposed to everybody,” she said. “I don’t know why the Red Cross put everybody there. There’s other provinces where there’s hotels.”

There were 127 active wildfires and 351 total wildfires this year, compared to the average number of wildfires for this time of year is 276, according to Manitoba’s most recent wildfire update, published July 29.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca