Flin Flon, Lynn Lake evacuees set to return home as wildfire threat eases

Thousands of wildfire evacuees are set to return to their homes in northwestern Manitoba in the coming days, as Lynn Lake lifts its evacuation order and Flin Flon moves to rescind its own.

Flin Flon Deputy Mayor Alison Dallas-Funk announced on a video on social media Thursday afternoon the city expects to begin re-entry Wednesday at 9 a.m., allowing about 5,100 people who escaped what's currently the largest wildfire in the province just over three weeks ago.

The city said mayor and council will meet Monday to officially rescind the evacuation order, so long as there's no unexpected fire behaviour and there's no hitches to the re-entry plan.

"We've made our dates and our final decision on our re-entry plan based on the fire activity and behaviour as of late," Dallas-Funk said in the video, adding that the city expects to have all essential services staffed and fully functioning this weekend.

"We're really glad to give our community this information, but please [be advised] that not everything will be up and running 100 per cent and we need to be patient about that."

Dallas-Funk said the city will have limited health-care services and people who require X-rays or medical care such as dialysis should consider delaying their return. 

She said grocery stores will also lack supplies. Some people will be allowed back into the community starting Friday to reopen "secondary support businesses" like hardware and clothing stores, restaurants as well as automotive and shipping services.

"Hydro is fully functioning. So is our cell communication," Dallas-Funk said. "We will have pharmacy here. We do have gas station."

The fire near Flin Flon was about 370,780 hectares as of the province's latest fire bulletin.

A fire about 10 kilometres from Bakers Narrows Provincial Park south of the city was approximately 7,200 hectares and was also out of control.

"Please be careful [Wednesday], the highways are going to be extremely busy. Also please bring some essentials with you if you can," Dallas-Funk said. 

Lynn Lake to begin re-entry Friday morning

Earlier Thursday night, the town of Lynn Lake announced in another Facebook post it was lifting its own order.

The town said in a Facebook post 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."

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 the provincial fire bulletin.

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."

The Lynn Lake Facebook post also says the restoration of electricity is underway and a boil-water advisory remains in effect.

Find the latest wildfire information at these sources:

• Canadian wildfire map
• Province of Manitoba fire bulletins
• CBC's wildfire tracker
• Communities under evacuations in Manitoba

Are you an evacuee who needs assistance? Contact Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or email 211mb@findhelp.ca.