Latest news with #NorthernManitoba
CBC
6 hours ago
- Climate
- CBC
Lynn Lake residents to return home as wildfire threat fades, health services start to be restored
Residents of Lynn Lake can soon return home, more than three weeks after a wildfire ordered an evacuation of the northern Manitoba community. The town said in a Facebook post Thursday night that residents can return home as of Friday at 8 a.m. Buses are being arranged for those who need assistance, and town officials will be in contact with those individuals, according to the Facebook post. Officials are telling residents, however, they must be ready to evacuate with little notice if fire conditions worsen. Lynn Lake Mayor Brandon Dulewich said the pending return to their town brings an "overwhelming feeling of joy" for him, as well as the evacuees who spent a few weeks sleeping on cots in a makeshift shelter in Thompson, more than 200 kilometres away. "They've been out of the community for I think 24 days now, but we've been trying to bring you home forever." Delays in reopening ER Dulewich said the evacuation order would have been rescinded earlier if health-care services in the town of roughly 600 people could have been restored faster. The emergency department opened again on Thursday, the mayor said. The fire near Lynn Lake is over 71,000 hectares and remains out of control, according to a provincial wildfire bulletin issued on Thursday. Earlier in the day, Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister of the Conservation Officer Service and the Manitoba Wildfire Service, said the north half of the blaze is actively burning but the south part, closer to the community, is looking better. The town said on Facebook that "hot spots" from the wildfire remain close to the community. "There is a continued risk of smoke and falling ash, especially during periods of increased wind and heat." Dulewich commended the people of Thompson for voluntarily looking after his community, which is just over 800 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. He's disappointed that Lynn Lake residents had to endure weeks in a shelter, sleeping on cots, while evacuees from other areas were flown to Winnipeg and stayed in hotel rooms. He wants a fairer system to be developed. "I've gone blue in the face, yelling at different agencies, trying to get the basic humane living conditions for the citizens of Lynn Lake," Dulewich said. "It's unbelievable that they had to have to stay in the makeshift shelter for this long."
CTV News
7 hours ago
- CTV News
Charges laid as Manitoba woman accused of trying to steal food from nine-year-old
Mounties in Thompson are investigating with officers from the RCMP major crime unit. (File image). THOMPSON -- A young woman in northern Manitoba is facing charges after police allege she tried to steal food from a nine-year-old girl. RCMP say they were called Wednesday to a robbery in Thompson, 700 kilometres north of Winnipeg, where a woman went up to a girl riding a bike and asked for the bag of food she was carrying. A bystander saw the whole thing and chased the woman away before bringing the child to safety. Mounties say the girl wasn't seriously hurt and didn't need medical attention. They say officers arrested a 22-year-old woman who matched the description given to them by the girl and the bystander. The accused has been charged with robbery, causing a disturbance and two counts of resisting arrest, and has been remanded into custody. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025.
CBC
14 hours ago
- Climate
- CBC
Manitoba looks to move Thompson evacuees elsewhere amid struggle for hotel space, minister says
Manitoba is looking at moving more than 100 wildfire evacuees from the northern city of Thompson to another part of the province, as it struggles to find enough hotel space for everyone forced out of their homes this spring. As of Thursday, about 114 people were still living in the evacuation centre in that city, including some who had been there for close to three weeks, Lisa Naylor, the minister responsible for Manitoba's Emergency Management Organization, said at a news conference. "It is provincial policy for people not to stay in congregate shelters. And we have worked really hard, but because we can't find rooms in the area we are looking at moving people to a different location in Manitoba," Naylor said. "That's going to be sorted out over the next probably 24 to 48 hours. Folks have been there a really long time, and that was never the intention." Those evacuees are among more than 22,000 people forced out of their homes this spring by wildfires, in what Naylor described as one of the largest evacuations in the province's history. People from 14 Manitoba communities are still evacuated from their homes as wildfires continue to burn across the province, said Christine Stevens, assistant deputy minister of the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization. While evacuees from some areas have started to go home, Stevens said there are a number of elements local officials have to make sure are in place before that happens everywhere, including the return of medical staff and law enforcement, and the reopening of schools, grocery stores and gas stations. As of Thursday, there are 21 wildfires burning across Manitoba, including seven deemed out of control, said Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister of the Conservation Officer Service and the Manitoba Wildfire Service. The province overall is at a moderate to high fire danger — and while there are pockets where rain has helped, officials are also anticipating more possible fire starts caused by recent and forecast thunderstorms, Hayward said. Updates on out-of-control fires Hayward also gave updates on a number of out-of-control fires burning near communities across Manitoba, including two in northwestern Manitoba near the city of Flin Flon. One of those fires is now about 7,200 hectares on the Manitoba side of the border, while the other is over 370,000 hectares and still very active after recent rain dried up — though Hayward said crews are still making steady progress in the area immediately around Flin Flon. Another out-of-control fire in eastern Manitoba, in the area of Nopiming Provincial Park, is over 218,000 hectares. Hayward said while that blaze continues to burn actively on its north and west sides, residents in some other areas nearby were able to return home recently, as crews have gotten good control on those sections of the fire. Good progress is being made on an out-of-control fire that's now over 21,500 hectares in the Split Lake area, northeast of Thompson, while another in the Lynn lake region is over 71,000 hectares, with the north half actively burning but the south part, closer to the community, looking better, she said. Another blaze in the Cross Lake area that's about 64,000 hectares has been stable, meaning it's not growing significantly over time, Hayward said. Meanwhile, two other fires in western Manitoba have had their status change, with one near Wanless deemed under control and another close to Grand Rapids being held, she said. 'Could get worse from here, I won't sugarcoat it' As for what the rest of the summer may hold for wildfires in Manitoba, that's more difficult to predict, Hayward said. "I wish I had a crystal ball, as I usually say," she said, adding what's clear is the long-term forecast shows prolonged periods of warmer than average temperatures and a possibility of lower than normal precipitation. "We're coming into a season where we see a lot of thunderstorms and a lot of lighting passing through. So, you know, things could get worse from here, I won't sugarcoat it — but hopefully they don't." WATCH | Thursday's Manitoba wildfire update: Manitoba wildfire update 43 minutes ago Duration 22:47 Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor gives an update on the wildfires burning across Manitoba, alongside Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister of the Conservation Officer Service and the Manitoba Wildfire Service, and Christine Stevens, assistant deputy minister of the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization. To date, the province has recorded 124 fires this spring — above the 20-year average of 118 for this time of year, she said. The total area burned in Manitoba this year is now over 902,000 hectares. The province now has 297 people from outside Manitoba helping with the wildfire effort, including some from Newfoundland and Labrador and from Parks Canada. Most are from U.S. federal and state agencies, including firefighters from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, Hayward said.
CTV News
16 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Manitoba government to provide update on wildfire situation
Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) The Manitoba government will provide an update Thursday afternoon about the wildfire situation in the province. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor, Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister of the Conservation Officer Service and Manitoba Wildfire Service and Christine Stevens, assistant deputy minister of the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization, will give the update at the Manitoba legislature. On Wednesday, the province reduced travel and fire restrictions to Level 2, which allows people to have campfires between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. The latest update issued Wednesday said there are 21 active wildfires. There have been 124 total in 2025. CTV News will live stream the update. This is a developing story. More details to come.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Manitoba communities prepare to return home after wildfires displaced thousands
WINNIPEG -- Two First Nations organizations are teaming up to provide services for northern Manitoba wildfire evacuees, while some affected communities are getting set to return home. The Southern Chiefs' Organization, which represents 32 First Nations in southern Manitoba, says it will provide culturally safe supports to hundreds who have fled to Brandon, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie and the Winkler and Morden area. Thousands from five northern First Nations have been forced out of their home communities over the last two weeks, with many of them staying in Winnipeg. The organization will oversee the operation of reception centres, distribute supplies and provide on-site safety and security at evacuation centres and hotels in collaboration with local municipalities and emergency services. Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said the organization is committed to compassionate, dignified and culturally grounded care. Expand Autoplay 1 of 7 Wab Kinew Premier Wab Kinew looks out window of the plane during a tour of wildfires in northern Manitoba including Flin Flon and Thompson. June 12, 2025. (Mike Deal/Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) 'Having to meet the need that we are seeing on the ground, I think, has been the highest priority for all of us and being able to do that in a timely way, as well, has been very important to everybody who's going through this situation right now.' Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents 26 northern First Nations, including those that have evacuated, has spearheaded support efforts in Winnipeg, but said it needed help to reach evacuees outside the city. 'We don't have enough manpower to be able to go to all of these,' Grand Chief Garrison Settee told reporters Friday. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has said some hotel owners are not doing enough to help evacuees. After touring some fire-hit areas Thursday, he said most hotel operators have been great, but some need to open up rooms as there are evacuees still sleeping in cots in emergency shelters. Meanwhile, some communities are preparing to return home this weekend. Residents from Snow Lake, in northwestern Manitoba, have been told the mandatory evacuation order issued a week ago has been lifted. People can begin going home early Saturday, the town said on social media. The post told residents to stock up on groceries and other essential supplies and pack a to-go bag in case fire conditions worsen and they have to evacuate again. Officials in Flin Flon said late Thursday that fire crews are holding the fire line and conditions are stabilizing. Deputy Mayor Alison Dallas-Funk said the city has reached out to the Northern Health Region to see about reinstating basic core health care services, one of the conditions that needs to be met before the city's 5,000 residents can return. 'We're hoping to get some answers from them as soon as possible,' she said. About 21,000 people in Manitoba have had to evacuate, including from Flin Flon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation and other areas. There's a fire burning about five kilometres away from Pimicikamak, while the one near Flin Flon is the largest in the province, spanning about 3,000 square kilometres. A smaller fire is burning south of Cranberry Portage, but the community's 600 residents will be allowed to return home starting Saturday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
