Dry conditions fuel wildfires throughout province

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This article was published 20/05/2021 (1751 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FIREFIGHTING crews are working to protect Manitoba Hydro infrastructure near a massive, out-of-control blaze in the isolated northern Interlake.

The 345,000-acre wildfire, situated in forests off Lake Manitoba’s northeastern tip, is more than 80 kilometres long and approximately 16-km wide at its largest point. It sparked May 12.

On Tuesday, the Manitoba Wildfire Service was forced to close Highway 6 between St. Martin Junction and Easterville Junction due to fire and smoke.

The power utility’s Bipole I and II transmission lines are not currently at risk, Hydro spokesman Bruce Owen said Wednesday. But crews are trying to protect two Bipole communications sites in the area.

The fire service deployed sprinkler systems late Tuesday, Owen said.

The two transmission lines run alongside each other for much of their route from Gillam in the north to a power conversion station near Winnipeg.

Smoke from the fire could affect a number of communities in the area, including Grand Rapids, Misipawistik Cree Nation, Homebrook, Skownan First Nation, Waterhen, Mallard and Gypsumville, the province said Wednesday.

Earlier this week, a road construction crew was evacuated.

The Rural Municipality of Grahamdale is to the immediate south of the massive blaze.

Reeve Craig Howse said the northern Interlake is extremely dry. Smaller fires were extinguished in and around the RM in the past week.

“It’s quite concerning, that (fire),” the reeve said. “If we don’t get any moisture, there’s a possibility the wind could bring that fire back and threaten our community and neighbouring communities.”

Hot weather, little rain, and high winds have led to a number of significant fires across the province, including a 14,000-acre blaze that started on Canadian Forces Base Shilo near Carberry.

Rain is helping suppress that fire, the province said. A local state of emergency is still in effect in the RM of North Cypress and the Town of Carberry. The communities initiated some precautionary evacuations Monday night.

Manitoba had 27 total active wildfires Wednesday, with nine classified as out of control — six were blazing in Parkland and the northern Interlake, while three burned in the Whiteshell.

Although rain is in the forecast over the next three days in parts of the province, all of southern and central Manitoba remains at extreme risk of wildfires.

“Some rain is coming. It should help with the drought conditions in the province,” Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Alysa Peterson said.

A system of rain will move north today from North Dakota into southern Manitoba.

“Essentially, if you draw a line east-to-west, from Dauphin south, you’re looking at 20 to maybe 30 to 40 (millimetres of rain) at the most over the three days,” Peterson said.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca