Provincewide fire update

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/10/2011 (5093 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’ll be a smokin’ long weekend at many of Manitoba’s favourite getaways as strong winds fan the flames of fires burning from Lac du Bonnet to Riding Mountain National Park.

In eastern Manitoba, a fire near Bissett has grown to 18,000 hectares and is 40 kilometres long and six km wide.

Four remote cabins are at risk and sprinkler kits have been deployed.

Fifty firefighters and support staff are working on the fire at Long Lake. Highway 304 east of Bissett and west of Wallace Lake was closed Thursday and remains closed due to fire crossing the highway and heavy smoke.

Eight firefighters from Ontario arrived Friday and 21 from B.C. will arrive today to help fight Bissett fire.

In western Manitoba’s Riding Mountain National Park, dozens of firefighters battled a blaze that began as a controlled burn before high winds and hot, dry weather turned it into wildfire, the park announced Friday from Wasagaming.

Firefighters from Glacier National Park and Mount Revelstoke National Park were expected later to join crews already in place from Prince Albert National Park and Riding Mountain, bringing the total number to 40 at work to contain it.

Landowners on the west side of the park remain on evacuation alert. A fire break set up Friday was holding, park spokeswoman Cate Watrous said. The evacuation alert in the RM of Clanwilliam was put in place Thursday night.

The fire is located around the Muskrat Creek area and it is now 12 km long from south to north. Park officials have closed all trails and roads east of Highway 10. A fire ban is in place in throughout the park.

 

Breathing trouble?

THAT smoky haze hanging in the air over part of Winnipeg and eastern Manitoba is a health hazard for people with breathing problems.

The Manitoba Lung Association issued an advisory Friday to be aware of the poor air quality. Even if you’re healthy, the association is urging you to limit your exposure to the smoke outdoors.

If you have chronic obstructive lung disease, asthma or lung cancer, smoke outside can trigger a flare-up of symptoms that could leave you gasping for breath. So for the sake of your lungs the lung association suggests these tips:

— Decrease the amount of time you spend outdoors;

— Keep your windows closed in your home and in your car;

— Take your asthma or COPD medications as ordered by your physician;

— Use your action plan developed by your physician which often includes increasing both types of inhaler medications;

— Pay close attention to your symptoms

Go to emergency if your medications are not working and your shortness of breath and chest tightness worsen.

For more information visit the Manitoba Lung Association’s website at www.mb.lung.ca or call 1-888-566-5864.

 

— Carol Sanders, Alexandra Paul