Latest news with #CanadianRedCross
CTV News
a day ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Manitoba to close wildfire evacuation centres as communities return home
A reception centre for evacuees of the wildfires in northern Manitoba is being staffed by provincial Emergency Social Services, and the Canadian Red Cross at the Billy Mosienko Arena in Winnipeg, Thursday, May 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski WINNIPEG -- Some wildfire evacuees staying in a shelter in northern Manitoba may be moved elsewhere in the province as more communities return home and the government closes temporary evacuations centres. The province says congregate shelters in Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie are closing as space has opened up in hotel rooms. The shelter at the Leila Soccer Complex will remain open in case additional evacuations are needed. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor says roughly 114 people are still displaced at the shelter in Thompson due to a lack of available hotel spaces. She says some evacuees staying in the city may be close to returning home and others may be moved to hotels elsewhere in Manitoba within the next day or two. The fires forced more than 22,000 from their homes, although many began returning home over the weekend. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025.
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘We have no choice': Water quality issues delay evacuees' return to Manitoba First Nation
A wildfire burns west of Split Lake, Man. on May 31, 2025. (Dieter Beardy) A Manitoba First Nation is asking members not to return after a mandatory evacuation order was lifted due to issues with the water supply. Tataskweyak Cree Nation (TCN) Chief and Council posted on its Facebook page Tuesday that water quality tests showed high levels of aluminum. It said the water treatment plant is no longer functioning, and the water has been shut off. 'The pipes and reservoir will need to be cleaned and samples taken after the cleaning,' the post said. TCN was evacuated late last month as an out-of-control wildfire burned only a kilometre away, causing the community, also known as Split Lake, to lose power. Manitoba map A map of Manitoba showing Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Fox Lake Cree Nation and York Factory. Uploaded May 29, 2025. (CTV News Winnipeg) The wildfire evacuation order was initially lifted Monday. However, the water quality issue has since prompted the First Nation to declare a state of emergency. 'We understand this announcement will be upsetting for everyone, especially since we announced the mandatory fire evacuation being lifted. We have no choice to calling this state of emergency,' the post said. TCN is now in talks with Indigenous Services Canada and Health Canada to rectify the issue, the First Nation wrote. The Canadian Red Cross has been notified and transportation for members to return has been pushed back. The community is also facing a community-wide power outage Thursday as Manitoba Hydro replaces a power structure that was damaged beyond repair during the wildfires. 'Please understand this will be the first of numerous community wide outages required for Manitoba Hydro to safely conduct required structure replacements and repairs due to damage sustained during this year's wildfires,' TCN Chief Doreen Spence wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday. Hydro will provide more information as additional outages are confirmed, Chief Spence said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tataskweyak evacuees warned not to return after leaders declare state of emergency over water treatment plant
Just hours after Tataskweyak Cree Nation announced it was lifting its wildfire evacuation order, the northern Manitoba First Nation declared a state of emergency on Tuesday morning after its water treatment plant stopped working. In a statement posted to Facebook on Tuesday, council said the community's water was turned off after water tests indicated high levels of aluminum. Leaders said they will need to do further testing after the plant's pipes and reservoir have been cleaned. On Monday, Tataskweyak's chief and council announced on social media that the evacuation was being lifted at 6:45 p.m. that night. The First Nation, also known as Split Lake, first declared a state of emergency on May 29 due to a nearby wildfire and an evacuation order was issued the next day. Evacuees from the community were sent to Thompson, Brandon and Winnipeg, as well as Niagara Falls, Ont. In Tuesday's state of emergency post, the First Nation asked that returning residents stay where they are while the chief and council work with Indigenous Services Canada and Health Canada to fix the issue. Council said the Canadian Red Cross has been instructed to stop organizing travel for returning wildfire evacuees until the treatment plant is functioning again. Melanie Spence, who had been staying in Thompson since May 29, had planned to drive home to Tataskweyak on Tuesday. "I was very thrilled yesterday when we were given the news [that] the evacuation was lifted. But first thing this morning we were told that [we] can't go home now," Spence said. She said she plans to drive home to grab a few things before hunkering down in Thompson again. "The update today, that just clarifies that no one can go home," she said. Later on Tuesday, Tataskweyak council posted another statement warning there will be a community-wide power outage on Thursday, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., while Manitoba Hydro works to repair power structures that were damaged by wildfire. Council said more scheduled outages are planned to complete this repair work. As of Tuesday night, it was unclear when residents can go home. CBC News has reached out to Chief Doreen Spence, Manitoba Hydro, Indigenous Services Canada and Health Canada, but did not receive a response before publication.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Tataskweyak evacuees warned not to return after leaders declare state of emergency over water treatment plant
Social Sharing Just hours after Tataskweyak Cree Nation announced it was lifting its wildfire evacuation order, the northern Manitoba First Nation declared a state of emergency on Tuesday morning after its water treatment plant stopped working. In a statement posted to Facebook on Tuesday, council said the community's water was turned off after water tests indicated high levels of aluminum. Leaders said they will need to do further testing after the plant's pipes and reservoir have been cleaned. On Monday, Tataskweyak's chief and council announced on social media that the evacuation was being lifted at 6:45 p.m. that night. The First Nation, also known as Split Lake, first declared a state of emergency on May 29 due to a nearby wildfire and an evacuation order was issued the next day. Evacuees from the community were sent to Thompson, Brandon and Winnipeg, as well as Niagara Falls, Ont. In Tuesday's state of emergency post, the First Nation asked that returning residents stay where they are while the chief and council work with Indigenous Services Canada and Health Canada to fix the issue. Council said the Canadian Red Cross has been instructed to stop organizing travel for returning wildfire evacuees until the treatment plant is functioning again. Melanie Spence, who had been staying in Thompson since May 29, had planned to drive home to Tataskweyak on Tuesday. "I was very thrilled yesterday when we were given the news [that] the evacuation was lifted. But first thing this morning we were told that [we] can't go home now," Spence said. She said she plans to drive home to grab a few things before hunkering down in Thompson again. "The update today, that just clarifies that no one can go home," she said. Later on Tuesday, Tataskweyak council posted another statement warning there will be a community-wide power outage on Thursday, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., while Manitoba Hydro works to repair power structures that were damaged by wildfire. Council said more scheduled outages are planned to complete this repair work. As of Tuesday night, it was unclear when residents can go home.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Sask. provincial fire ban rescinded, some local bans remain in effect
Highway 106 is closed as wildfires burn near Smeaton, Sask. on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards With Saskatchewan's provincial fire ban no longer in effect the province says it is important to be aware that provincial parks, rural municipalities and other communities may have their own bans still active. In a wildfire update via a news release Tuesday afternoon, the province encouraged residents to check for ongoing fire bans here. As of Tuesday afternoon, there are 14 active wildfires in the province, five are considered not contained, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA). 'Five communities remain under an evacuation order: Creighton, Denare Beach, East Trout Lake, Whelan Bay and priority individuals in Cumberland House,' the release said. The SPSA is also reminding residents to be diligent when it comes to preventing wildfires and says anyone who spots a wildfire should call 911, their closest SPSA Forest Protection Area office, or 1-800-667-9660. Information for evacuees The province says evacuees who have still not registered are encouraged to do so through the Sask Evac Web Application or by calling 1-855-559-5502 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. for assistance. 'Evacuees supported by the Canadian Red Cross can call 1-800-863-6582 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. A full list of evacuated and repatriated communities can be found on the Information for Evacuees webpage,' the release said. The SPSA has confirmed that 350 values have been lost in wildfires to date, with the number expected to exceed 500 following more investigations that includes assessing Denare Beach later this week.
