Pukatawagan residents forced out by wildfire

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This article was published 15/07/2022 (1189 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A wildfire that is raging two kilometres east of Pukatawagan has forced members of the northern Cree nation to flee from their homes.

Of the 39 fires burning in the province Friday, the one at the community in the far north near the Saskatchewan border ,was the largest, at more than 24,000 acres, the Manitoba government reported.

Three fires had started in the past 24 hours, it said in a release.

“The Manitoba Wildfire Service advises that due to increased lightning and minimal precipitation, wildfire danger levels are high throughout Manitoba and high to extreme in northwestern Manitoba.”

Air-quality statements had been issued for parts of the region.

As the flames got closer, the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation activated its emergency plan; crews were remaining behind to help protect homes and critical buildings. The First Nation is accessible by air and rail, but has no road access.

David Coholan, the director of flight operations at Missinippi Airways, said the company received a call about the fire Thursday afternoon. The airline only had two aircraft available to begin ferrying out people to safety.

“We had our pilots here and we proceeded to start the evacuation process when we were airborne,” Coholan said. “We have been doing flights throughout (Thursday) evening to pick up passengers in Pukatawagan and take them to Thompson to drop them off where they’re under the Red Cross’ care.”

Missinippi cancelled all commercial flights Friday and announced it wouldn’t accept reservations or freight until the fire was under control.

Coholan said the airline is dedicating its efforts to getting community members in the region to safety.

“The severity is bad. I flew in there last night. The town is filled with smoke, flames could be seen at dusk, very close to the community,” Coholan said. “It’s hard to breathe there.”

The Canadian Red Cross is working with the community to arrange lodging, meals and other basic necessities. Residents were flown to a hotel in Thompson and some will be flown to Winnipeg.

“We are working today with Indigenous Services Canada and the First Nation to fly out as many people as possible,” said Jason Small, the Manitoba communications manager for the Red Cross.

Cailin Hodder, the fire operations manager at Manitoba Wildfire Service said the fire had escalated Friday but crews are working to prevent it from spreading.

“With the wind conditions, the heat (and) further lightning concerns in the area (Thursday), it grew quite quickly and quite large,” Hodder said.

She said the service is prepared to send water bombers when it is determined to be effective. Officials are in frequent contact with Chief Lorna Bighetty to receive updates from the community.

“The smoke has been quite thick in particular today and winds are blowing into the community, so that does hinder some of the efforts to protect structures and move equipment around,” Hodder said. “Currently, because it’s towards the west, it’s moving towards the community.”

The Keewatin Railway Company was to sending a train to Pukatawagan Friday evening to transport more community members to safety in Sherridon, said CEO Anthony Mayham.

“We’re going to load up as many passengers as we’re able to,” Mayham said.

Other groups and organizations that received word about the fire have jumped in to help. The Manitoba Animal Alliance is organizing efforts to rescue pets from affected regions. Melanie Chucyk said they are in contact with a company that helped transport animals during fires last summer.

“We will head up to the fire zone and try to bring as many animals as we can so that they can survive,” Chucyk said. “(For) animals that are left behind, we make sure we leave food and we set out food and water for them until a rescue can get out there.”

Small said that the Red Cross is always looking for more boots on the ground during the wildfire season. Volunteers can sign up by visiting www.redcross.ca he said.

“The Red Cross always needs more people to volunteer to help us so that we can provide the support that people need,” Small said.

cierra.bettens@freepress.mb.ca