Some patients being moved out of Flin Flon's hospital as wildfire grows close to city
Premier says hotels across the province at capacity, asks Manitobans to open doors to evacuees
BREAKING: All Flin Flon residents are being ordered to evacuate by midnight as the out-of-control wildfire near the city grows.
Read earlier story below.
Some patients at Flin Flon's hospital are being moved out as a wildfire burning out-of-control continues to grow toward the northwestern Manitoba city.
"The situation is serious," Premier Wab Kinew told reporters during an update on Manitoba's wildfire situation on Wednesday morning.
"We're asking people there to get ready for a potential evacuation."
The wildfire threatening the city of roughly 5,000 started in Saskatchewan on Monday, stretching into Manitoba on Tuesday after firefighters were unable to contain it, said Kristin Hayward, an assistant deputy minister with the Manitoba Wildfire Service.
Manitoba has seen a challenging wildfire season this year, with blazes raging simultaneously in the east, north and west.
"We're trying to manage resources efficiently," but the climate is changing, Kinew said.
"It's novel in the experience of the wildfire service to have all regions fighting serious blazes at once."
Intense conditions with the fire burning near Flin Flon limited the resources that could be sent to fight the blaze on both sides of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border, officials said.
Manitoba officials also said an aircraft battling wildfires had to be grounded because of a drone in the airspace.
"You got a community … on the verge of evacuation, and one of the reasons is because we couldn't fly water bombers in the area," Kinew said.
"Putting your drone up there and getting a video that you can share is simply not worth it. You have to put the good of the community ahead of your own interests."
WATCH | Sask. firefighters make dramatic escape as wildfire closes in near Man. border:
Local officials issued a pre-evacuation alert for Flin Flon on Tuesday, advising residents to be ready to leave on short notice if the situation gets worse.
Patients with higher acuity are being "proactively" moved out from the city's hospital, the Northern Health Region said in a social media post just after noon on Wednesday, adding current programs and services offered in the city's health facilities will continue normal operations.
With the wildfire situation escalating and hundreds forced out of their homes in recent weeks, hotels across the province are reaching capacity, Kinew said.
He asked companies and communities to open their doors to more evacuees in the coming days.
"Now is the time to get ready to support," he said.
Evacuated residents might also be relocated to shelters in some situations, said Kinew.
Firefighter seriously injured
Manitoba has recorded the highest fire activity in Canada so far this year. More than 198,000 hectares have burned in the province — almost three times the five-year average for an entire year.
The wildfire near Flin Flon is one of 18 actively burning in Manitoba. So far this year, Manitoba has seen 96 blazes. The 20-year average for fires as of this date is 77.
All but four of the fires are confirmed or suspected to be caused by human activity, said assistant deputy minister Hayward.
Low humidity levels, lack of precipitation and a prolonged period of warm weather have also contributed to the "abnormal level" of fires this year, she said.
Human activity is expected to spark more wildfires in the coming days amid very dry conditions, and officials asked residents to think of that when planning activities.
So far, 15 people have been charged in connection with the wildfires, while 21 more have received warnings, officials said.
"We need to be really, really careful," said Kinew, adding that includes caution around setting off fireworks or doing any backcountry travel.
WATCH | 'Now is the time to get ready to support,' premier tells Manitobans:
Hayward said the string of wildfires has stretched local resources thin.
Crews from other jurisdictions have come to Manitoba to help in priority areas, including 20 more firefighters from New Brunswick, two from Prince Edward Island and 28 more crews expected from British Columbia, said Hayward.
One firefighter is recovering in hospital after they were seriously injured, the province said.
"Hopefully, this helps to reinforce how serious this situation is. People are putting themselves in harm's way to protect life and limb and property right around this whole province," said Kinew.
The decision on where to send crews relies on how serious the situation is, and the province is trying to accommodate situations that have changed "pretty radically" in recent days, the premier said.
Sherridon, Lynn Lake already evacuated
Separate wildfires forced the evacuations of Sherridon and Lynn Lake, both north of Flin Flon, earlier this week, and officials are concerned winds might push the already out-of-control blazes closer to both communities within the next 24 hours.
The communities of Cross Lake and Wabowden have both declared states of emergency, and there are several emerging fires, including near Chemawawin Cree Nation and neighbouring Easterville, southeast of The Pas, as well as near Wanless, which is between The Pas and Flin Flon.
The fire in the Nopiming and Bird River area in the east continues to burn, Hayward said. Along the Ontario border, a wildfire that started near Ingolf, Ont., and spread into Manitoba's Whiteshell area is also still out of control, with active hot spots on the north and west.
Nopiming Provincial Park remains closed, but permanent residents, cottagers, commercial operators and day visitors can return to sections of the Whiteshell Provincial Park starting Thursday, according to the province's last fire bulletin.
Brereton, Red Rock, White and Jessica lakes in the north Whiteshell will reopen at 9 a.m. Thursday, along with the Star and Hunt lakes subdivisions, Caddy Lake blocks 4, 9 and 10, and West Hawk Lake's west shore and south shore subdivisions in the south Whiteshell.
Areas that remain closed include McDougall's Landing, Big Island Landing and Indian Bay at West Hawk Lake, along with Caddy Lake blocks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the province said.
Crowduck Lake, Big Whiteshell Lake, Island Block, Green Bay Resort and the public boat launch at Block 4, Florence Lake, Nora Lake and Ophir Siding also remain closed.
Manitoba Parks said while it acknowledges residents and visitors to the park are frustrated about the closures, the fire is still presenting challenges, with numerous hot spots pushed by winds and dry conditions.
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