Latest news with #NopimingProvincialPark
CBC
13 hours ago
- General
- CBC
Returning Nopiming residents thankful their homes were spared by wildfire
Some Manitobans living and working in Nopiming Provincial Park have returned home more than a month after they were forced out by the largest wildfire in the province's east. The southern part of the park — including Bird, Booster, Flanders and Davidson lakes, as well as Provincial Road 315 — reopened for permanent residents, cottagers and commercial operators Wednesday at 8 a.m. Martin Enns said he's grateful he has a cabin to go back to. "I really didn't know at one point whether they could stop the fire or not," the Booster Lake cottager said. "It's just so powerful. It's huge and, from the map that I was looking at … 90 per cent of the park is burned. So how do you stop a monster like that?" The news comes 36 days after an evacuation order was issued for communities in the area because of the fire, which was then about 5,000 hectares in size. It's continued growing, and as of Thursday's update, was 218,700 hectares and still considered out of control. Provincial Road 314 across Nopiming remains closed, and a mandatory evacuation order is still in place for the rest of the park beyond the southern areas that opened Wednesday, as well as for nearby Wallace Lake, South Atikaki and Manigotagang River. Nancy Krebs said she feels lucky. The lifelong Nopiming resident said she knew her place on Bird Lake was safe because the fire hadn't gotten across the water. But Krebs said she and her husband still wanted to return home quickly to see for themselves everything was fine. "I've been here over 60 years. I don't see myself anywhere else, quite frankly," she said. "It's my life. My childhood. I spent all summer here with my mom.… She'd bang pots to keep the bears away at night. It was very rustic, believe me. But it was fun." Back in Booster Lake, Martin Enns said the return has put him at ease after some "very anxious moments." He and his wife purchased their lot in 1981 and built their cabin "basically with our own hands," enjoying it with the rest of their family over the years. "We were considering selling it at one point, but now all of a sudden you're faced with maybe losing it — wow. You don't want to sell it," he said. "You suddenly realize what you've got." The province said the Tulabi Falls and Bird Lake campgrounds will remain closed until at least June 26. Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or email 211mb@
CBC
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Wildfire evacuees staying in Winnipeg all now moved to hotels, province says
Wildfire evacuees in need of accommodations in Winnipeg have all been placed in hotels as of Wednesday morning, the province says. Congregate shelter sites at the Century and Eric Coy arenas and RRC Polytech in Winnipeg, and the site in Portage la Prairie, will now no longer be used for evacuees. But the site at the soccer complex on Leila Avenue will keep capacity in case any evacuees need emergency shelter, and Billy Mosienko Arena will remain a 24-hour reception centre, Manitoba's latest wildfire update on Wednesday said. Earlier Wednesday, a provincial spokesperson said the government is aware of about 130 structures lost to wildfires across Manitoba. However, the province will not provide further details or descriptions of those structures "until we can be sure that the affected individuals have been notified," the spokesperson said in an email. The south part of Nopiming Provincial Park has also reopened for permanent residents, cottagers and commercial operators, which includes Provincial Road 315, Bird Lake, Booster Lake, Flanders Lake and Davidson Lake. A closure and mandatory evacuation order continues for the rest of the park, and the entire areas of Wallace Lake, South Atikaki and Manigotagan River provincial parks. There are 21 active wildfires burning across the province — six of which are out of control — and have been 124 to date this year, above the average for this time of year of 118 total fires, the province said. Since May 1, the Manitoba Conservation Officer Service has issued 93 charges and 31 warnings related to wildfires. The out-of-control fires include one near the northwestern city of Flin Flon, which is about 370,780 hectares, and one in the eastern area of Nopiming Provincial Park, which is about 218,700 hectares, the province said Wednesday. The Manitoba Wildfire Service is also updating fire and travel restrictions for many parts of the province to Level 2, starting 8 a.m. Thursday. Fire and travel restrictions have also been lifted for a number of provincial parks. Recent rainfall and a full green-up — green grass with less dead, cured leaves and full leaves on trees — have helped reduce the fire risk in some parts of Manitoba, though other areas are still at high risk, and significant fire suppression operations continue and restrictions remain in place there, the province said. The wildfires forced roughly 22,000 from their homes, officials said earlier this week, mainly in the north and north-central regions. Pimicikamak Cree Nation saw 7,000 forced out, but they are now allowed to go back. Flights have brought people back from Winnipeg, while buses have been chartered for those who were taken to Thompson. There was still no word on when the 5,000 residents of Flin Flon might be allowed to return. A fire nearby remained out of control and officials said there were hot spots not far from the community. Anyone going back to a reopened area should be prepared to evacuate again with little notice and should prepare an emergency go kit, as well as remain alert for evacuation notices, the province said.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Evacuation order lifted in Manitoba community
Trees burned by wildfires in northern Manitoba are shown during a helicopter tour in the surrounding area of Flin Flon, Man., on Thursday, June 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mike Deal-Pool Dozens of evacuees have been given the green light to return home after another evacuation order was lifted in a Manitoba community. According to the province's latest fire bulletin Tuesday, the evacuation order in Bissett, Man., ended as of 8 a.m., allowing about 80 people to start returning home. They were first forced out at the end of last month after a wildfire near Nopiming Provincial Park threatened the southeastern Manitoba community. Bissett A map showing the location of Bissett, Man. An evacuation order was issued for the community on May 30, 2025. (CTV News Winnipeg) However, the province noted the fire danger level on Tuesday was high despite improving conditions, noting new fires could start from lightning or human causes. There are currently 20 active wildfires burning across Manitoba, the province said, which is up two from Monday's bulletin. However, the number of out-of-control blazes was unchanged at 10. The largest near Sherridon and Flin Flon was pegged at 370,780 hectares Tuesday, which is also unchanged from the previous bulletin. Meanwhile, the province reminded those returning home that while the immediate risk to some communities may have decreased, wildfires are still active. 'Smoke and visible flames may still be present. Manitobans are reminded to stay informed by regularly monitoring wildfire updates,' the bulletin said.
CBC
01-06-2025
- Climate
- CBC
RM of Alexander partially lifts evacuation order in Bird River
Social Sharing The Rural Municipality of Alexander is partially lifting an evacuation order triggered by a wildfire that's been active in eastern Manitoba for more than 20 days. The RM said in an update Sunday it was lifting the order for areas on Provincial Road 315 going north to the intersection of Hill Drive, in Bird River. The fire at Nopiming Provincial Park, on Manitoba's east side, was 185,400 hectares in size and about one kilometre from Bird River, as of the province's latest fire bulletin Saturday. People living in the area between Hill Road and the Bird River bridge to the west were told to evacuate on May 12, as winds turned toward them. The RM said the imminent risk of danger to life and properties in the area has diminished. The area where the evacuation order is lifted covers Ledin Road, Cat Tail Drive, Tagasen Boulevard, Hugh Road, Pioneer Drive, Ridge Road, Otter Drive, Crane Drive, Oiseau River Road, Hill Drive and all areas south of the bridge. The RM partially lifted evacuation orders on areas southwest of Ledin Road on Wednesday, the same day the province declared a state of emergency because of wildfires in the province's north and east. Bird River residents must be registered with the Connect emergency alert system and be on a two-hour evacuation notice to be allowed to return, the RM said. A new barrier will be placed just beyond Hill Drive.
CBC
26-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Widespread wildfire smoke prompts air quality alerts in Manitoba
Smoke from wildfires is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility in parts of Manitoba, prompting alerts from Environment Canada. Warm and dry conditions are expected through the week, continuing the conditions that fuel wildfires, the weather agency's forecast says. However, the dangerously-high winds are not expected. On the flipside, though, the lighter winds mean the smoke will linger for a prolonged period. An air quality warning has been issued for southeast Manitoba, stretching from Manigotagan on the east side of Lake Winnipeg south to East Braintree, and from about 40 kilometres east of Winnipeg to the Ontario border. It includes: Bissett. Falcon Lake and West Hawk Lake. Powerview-Pine Falls. Seven Sisters Falls. Nopiming Provincial Park. Pointe du Bois. Rural municipality of Alexander. RM of Lac Du Bonnet. RM of Reynolds. Ste. Rita. Hadashville. Rennie. RM of Victoria Beach. RM of Whitemouth, including Elma. Shoal Lake First Nations. The fire in Nopiming Provincial Park, the largest of 15 wildfires currently burning in the province, remains listed as out of control at 115,100 hectares, according to Manitoba's FireView map. Environment Canada urges people to limit time outdoors and to consider reducing or rescheduling outdoor activities and events. Mild and common symptoms from poor air quality involve eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a moderate cough. More serious symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough. When indoors, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible. If you must spend time outdoors, a well-fitting respirator-type mask (N95 or equivalent) can reduce exposure to the fine particles in the smoke, the weather agency says. A special air quality statement covers much of northern Manitoba, from the tip of Lake Winnipeg to the Nunavut border and across to the Saskatchewan border. The only northern section not covered by the statement is the northeast corner, including Churchill, Gillam, Samattawa and the Island Lake communities. Environment Canada issued the same health warnings for the regions under the air quality statement as those under the warning.
