|
“This is the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most
peoples' living memory,” Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said.
He said the fires have forced 17,000 people across several
communities to flee.
“The military is being called for help here because of the sheer
scale of the 17,000 folks that we move relatively quickly,”
Kinew said. “I'm happy to say that Prime Minister Mark Carney
agreed with the request.”
The emergency declaration helps officials to safely transport
evacuees and provide shelter.
The Manitoba city of Flin Flon earlier ordered all 5,000
residents to leave due to an approaching wildfire. Residents
were told they should flee south with their essentials and aim
to be out by midnight. It had already begun sending out
high-needs hospital patients.
“Everybody has to be out by midnight and that includes me,” Flin
Flon Mayor George Fontaine said. “I’m busy packing a couple of
things and everybody is getting as organized as we can.”
He said people plan to take Highway 10 as it’s the only route
out.
“That ends up in Winnipeg so we’ll see what happens,” Fontaine
said. Flin Flon is nearly 400 miles (643 kilometers) northwest
of Winnipeg, the provincial capital.
The fire began Monday just north in neighboring Saskatchewan and
has exploded in size. The 1,200 residents of Creighton in
Saskatchewan were also ordered to leave.
Crews struggled early on to contain the fire as water bombers
were grounded due to a drone flying nearby.
There are 22 active wildfires in Manitoba. Officials said
firefighters from across Canada are helping to fight the flames.
On Sunday, a Parks Canada firefighter was severely injured.
So far this year, Manitoba has had 102 fires, which officials
say is “well above” the province’s average of 77 by this time.
Canada’s wildfire season runs May through September. Its
worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North
America with dangerous smoke for months.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
