Homes, cottages near Flin Flon evacuated as wildfire grows 'significantly' overnight: province
An out-of-control wildfire in northern Manitoba has forced an evacuation of some homes and cottages in the area, the province said Saturday.
Crews are battling a fire north of Flin Flon that "has grown significantly overnight," and now covers about 3,000 hectares (more than 7,400 acres), the province said Saturday afternoon in its third fire bulletin of the season.
The province issued an evacuation order to a number of homes and cottages in the area, and is warning others nearby to be prepared to leave.
"There is extreme fire behaviour in the area due to drought conditions and high winds," the bulletin says.
The Manitoba Wildfire Service, the Office of the Fire Commissioner, the Emergency Management Organization and the Manitoba Fire Service are currently responding to the fire, the province said.
Sprinklers have been set up near structures in the area. Air tankers from Saskatchewan are also helping with suppression efforts, and 10 crews from Ontario are set to arrive early next week, the province said.
Officials also closed off Sourdough Bay Road, east of Flin Flon, and evacuated the area around Sourdough Bay.
A map from the province shows wildfires in Manitoba as of Saturday, May 11, 2024. Fires in grey have been put out, while those in red are considered out of control. (Province of Manitoba)
Crews are also working on putting out another wildfire more than 100 hectares in size that's burning near Wanless, a hamlet north of The Pas. Drivers should expect reduced visibility on Highway 10, the province says.
Saturday's update comes after a Friday evening fire bulletin in which the province urged residents, particularly those in The Pas and Flin Flon, to use extreme caution in forested areas, with warm weather and drought conditions set to continue in parts of Manitoba.
Several wildfires started in northwestern Manitoba recently due to a system of dry lightning, or lightning with no rain, the province said in Friday's bulletin.
The City of Flin Flon issued a fire ban on Friday.
Meanwhile, wildfires that have started in the eastern region of Manitoba to date this season were caused by human activity, Friday's bulletin said. Most of those fires are now out, according to a provincial fire map.
The province is reminding people to follow fire prevention measures.
That includes monitoring campfires, not burning in windy conditions and making sure campfires are extinguished completely before leaving a site, the province says.
