Second temporary shelter set up in Winnipeg for northern fire evacuees

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This article was published 31/08/2017 (2970 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Another emergency shelter is opening in Winnipeg today to help accommodate people fleeing wild fire from northeastern Manitoba.

The Winnipeg Soccer North indoor complex will be opened today to hold up to 900 evacuees, said the Canadian Red Cross.

More than 3,700 people from three First Nations — Wasagamack, Garden Hill and St. Theresa Point — are being flown to Winnipeg and Brandon.

The first emergency shelter opened in Winnipeg Thursday at the RBC Convention Centre. About 1,000 evacuees filled the convention centre on Thursday as temporary lodging.

The third floor of the convention centre is set up with cots along with temporary dining and recreation areas. Since late Wednesday, volunteers from the Canadian Red Cross, the Bear Clan and other local groups have been hard at work preparing the building for the influx of evacuees.

Kim MacLean, the Red Cross director of disaster management for Manitoba and Saskatchewan, said the organization is thankful for the accommodation, even if it wasn’t the usual option given the circumstances.

“For us in Manitoba, we haven’t done this in a while. It’s kind of the last place that we look at. We always try to use commercial lodging as much as we can, and we also want to allow people to go stay with friends and family if that’s an option,” she said.

Hotel rooms ‘at a premium’

“Hotel rooms are at a premium right now, and we do have another 830 or so evacuees from Poplar River staying in Winnipeg,” said Shawn Feely, vice president of the Canadian Red Cross for the Manitoba and Nunavut regions, referring to an evacuation executed last week.

The latest evacuees were flown into Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson in chartered flights and on military planes, which were provided by the Department of National Defence as the wildfires grew with frightening speed Tuesday.

In Wasagamack, heavy smoke has been blowing into the community, and the fire’s glow is inching too close for anyone to remain there safely. As of Thursday, the 23,000-hectare fire was within 800 metres of Wasagamack homes, hastening the evacuation of all 2,000 residents. A 2000-hectare fire by Fox Lake is only six kilometres away from the community, and a 4,600-hectare fire is still burning three-and-a-half kilometres from Poplar River, where suppression efforts have been ongoing since last week.

The fire near Wasagamack also required an evacuation of St. Theresa Point and Garden Hill, as crews are working to suppress spot fires away from the main blaze.

According to a release from the province’s department of sustainable development and the office of the fire commissioner, fire crews from the Northwest Territories and Minnesota — along with water bombers from Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador — are supporting Manitoban suppression efforts.

The release states that hot, dry and windy conditions are continuing, resulting in elevated wildfire danger levels in many areas of the province.

One Wasagamack mother who preferred her name not be shared arrived at the convention centre around noon with six of her eight children in tow; two of them were taken to Brandon along with her grandchildren.

She’s thankful for the help, but frustrated to be separated from her family.

“The younger ones are here, but I need (the others) with me,” she said. 

“It’s been a hard two nights,” she added, with one young daughter clinging to her knee.

Keeping families and friends together during the evacuation is of the utmost importance to the Red Cross, and while the convention centre has given space for evacuees for the time being, contingency plans are being developed should more space be required to accommodate them, Feely said.

“Our main focus is on the here and now,” he said.

While the Red Cross and other partners are trying to help as many people as possible, children, elderly people and those with medical concerns were given priority, Feely said.

The first group of evacuees arrived at roughly 10:45 a.m., when more than 100 people exited a bus that took them straight from the airport to the convention centre, where people registered with Red Cross volunteers working as quickly as they could.

As soon as they arrived, the evacuees were provided snacks, coffee and other beverages. Meals will be provided in a seating area that can accommodate between 450 and 500 people. 

Personal hygiene kits are being given to all evacuees, and the convention centre has washrooms capable of accommodating the large group, but shower and laundry facilities are still being sought out, Feely said, adding he didn’t know exactly when those services would be available.

“Our main focus (right now) is on getting people out safely, getting them here in Winnipeg and getting them settled,” he told reporters.

“We understand and can appreciate how scared people might be, how stressed they are. They’d been waiting to be airlifted out, and now that is coming. Today is going to be a big day for moving the evacuees.”

Kevin Hart, Manitoba’s regional chief in the Assembly of First Nations, said his main concern is the health and safety of the evacuees.

“Some haven’t eaten for a long time,” Hart said.

Of the food already supplied, the Wasagamack mother hoped for more nutritional options moving forward.

“We’re tired of sandwiches,” she said.

People are still waiting at the tarmacks of the northern airports, Hart said. Some elderly people and diabetics haven’t eaten since late Wednesday night, so the AFN was working on getting food and lunches to those people. 

Estimated fire perimeter

 

Feely made sure to acknowledge the exceptional work the communities’ leadership groups have done to help residents navigate the evacuation process. 

As more people arrive in Winnipeg, Feely said the Red Cross is prepared to provide up to 2,000 cots at all times in Manitoba, in addition to government supplies and those reserved in neighbouring provinces.

“We have more than enough supplies for events like this,” he said, noting people who choose to stay with friends and family will be given food vouchers.

While recreation space is available within the convention centre, field trips will likely be planned to get people outside and moving. Should the evacuation last several weeks, as past Red Cross operations have, temporary school services can be set up with on-site teachers, Feely said.

In order to help people deal with the stress of the situation, community health professionals will be engaged to ensure the well-being of evacuees should it be needed.

“In terms of psychosocial support, our volunteers are trained,” he said.

Bear clan volunteering

Darryl Contois, a member of the Bear Clan, said other volunteers external to the Red Cross have undergone emergency training and are ready to help in any way possible.

“We haven’t (ever helped with a situation of this magnitude), but we have to start somewhere,” said Contois. 

“This is really unusual circumstances with the volume of people coming out, so I have to give credit to the city and all the partners who’ve really stepped forward and asked us, and said ‘What can we do to support you?’ It’s been great,” MacLean said.

The Red Cross is not seeking material donations, and though financial donations are always accepted by the organization, funds specifically earmarked to help the evacuees are not being sought, Feely said.

“Right now we are not asking for walk-in volunteers. That may change, it all depends on how long we’re (here),” he said.

The Island Lakes Tribal Council at 338 Broadway is accepting donations for hampers, baby formula, clothing and other essential needs, Hart said.

“A lot of people are just coming with the clothes off their backs,” he said.

ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca

— with files from Bill Redekop and Nick Martin