Some northern Manitoba communities evacuating as wildfires have others 'preparing for the worst'

Some communities in northern Manitoba were evacuating on Monday, as some evacuees returned home and others braced to leave.

During question period on Monday, Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Ian Bushie said the province's wildfire status is "evolving" as fire crews continue work to extinguish more than a dozen wildfires. 

There are 17 active wildfires burning across Manitoba as of Monday afternoon, according to the government's most recent fire bulletin. There have been 93 fires so far this year — 24 per cent higher than last year's total by this point.  

Bushie said many parts of the province are on "high alert" while some evacuation orders have lifted in recent days.

Residents in Lac du Bonnet, the RM of Alexander, the RM of Piney, and parts of Whiteshell Provincial Park have been allowed to return home since nearby wildfires were first detected. 

However, Bushie said the fires in Nopiming and Whiteshell parks are still considered out of control and reopenings depend on daily fire condition analysis. 

"Significant threats remain, so we would like to remind everyone that park closures and evacuations are a protective measure to safeguard lives and reduce harm when a wildfire poses a real threat," Bushie said. 

The community of Bissett has started planning for a possible evacuation in the coming days, due to the spread of an out-of-control wildfire in Nopiming Provincial Park. That fire has been burning for two weeks and has reached more than 121,000 hectares in size, according to Monday's provincial fire bulletin.  

An out-of-control wildfire southwest of Sherridon has prompted a full evacuation order in the northern Manitoba town about 640 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. 

That fire has grown to more than 6,300 hectares since it was first reported last Wednesday, the most recent fire status report from the province shows. 

Bushie said fire guards are being put in place at Pimicikamak Cree Nation, also known as Cross Lake. 

The First Nation began flying high-risk residents out of the area on the weekend, over concerns wildfire smoke would affect the health of elderly community members and those with chronic health conditions. 

Evacuees have been sent to hotels in Winnipeg, Thompson and Brandon. 

Pimicikamak has not reached a full evacuation order, but incident commander Ryan Castel said community members are getting anxious and the First Nation is "bracing for the worst."

"It's getting critical. Big huge walls of smoke are near our community," Castel told Margaux Watt on CBC's Up to Speed Monday afternoon. 

"We're holding out and praying for wind direction [changes and] rain, both of which don't seem to be coming," he said. 

Castel said the wildfire was more than 2,600 hectares. The province said its most up-to-date figure was 1,625 hectares in size on Monday.

About 400 high-risk individuals and their family members are on the list to be evacuated, Castel said, and he fears a full evacuation is coming. 

About 60 kilometres northwest of Pimicikamak, Wabowden declared a local state of emergency due to a wildfire burning out of control a few kilometres away from the northern community. 

The most recent status report from the province shows the fire was more than 37 hectares in size as of Monday night. 

Wabowden Mayor Reg Mead said the state of emergency allowed local officials to pre-register the entire community of 400 people, identifying between 50 and 100 high-risk individuals who would be prioritized if an evacuation order is issued. 

Registrations were completed on Sunday afternoon, Mead said. Now the community is waiting to hear whether they have to leave. 

"Everybody seems to be coping with it and on standby," Mead said, adding residents are "working quite well together." 

"I'd like to thank all the community members for their support and their understanding [that] just might happen. Be prepared," he said.