Manitoba lifting provincial travel, burn bans as recent rains continue to dampen wildfires
Backcountry travel within active fire boundaries still prohibited; municipalities may continue restrictions
Manitoba will lift provincial travel and burn restrictions on Friday as rains continue to help firefighting efforts, although municipalities may continue to impose restrictions.
"We have been getting some rain in some key areas," including the city of Flin Flon and the town of The Pas in northwestern Manitoba, according to Kristin Hayward, an assistant deputy minister with the Conservation Officer Service and Manitoba Wildfire Service.
"What that's allowed us to do is to make some really good progress on those fires," Hayward said at a news conference Thursday.
Provincial travel and burn restrictions are to be lifted at 8 a.m. CT Friday, with the exception of backcountry travel within the boundaries of an active fire, which will need a permit from the province, Hayward said.
Municipalities may also choose to continue their own fire bans, Hayward said, and anyone wanting to know if they're affected should check with local officials.
Hayward said off-road vehicle use, backcountry hiking and camping were the main activities affected by the travel bans, but "now that the fire danger has reduced, there's less of a chance that those types of activities might result in the start of a new fire."
She said she's not worried about lifting the restrictions with Canada Day celebrations approaching.
"I think what folks need to remember is just to be smart about having fires in approved pits," and to check on whether fireworks are allowed before setting them off, she said.
6,500 evacuees still out of homes
There were 18 active wildfires across Manitoba as of Thursday, including six that are out of control, Hayward said. More than 911,000 hectares in the province have burned so far.
There are 13 communities still under a local state of emergency, said Christine Stevens, an assistant deputy minister with Manitoba's Emergency Management Organization.
The communities of Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Mathias Colomb Cree Nation and Wallace Lake, along with parts of Nopiming Provincial Park, are still under evacuation orders, Stevens said at Thursday's news conference.
"That means that approximately 6,500 Manitobans remain out of their homes at this time," she said.
On Monday, Premier Wab Kinew announced the end to the provincewide state of emergency issued May 28, thanks in part to favourable weather conditions, including precipitation, that have slowed down some of the fast-moving wildfires.
The wildfires forced thousands to flee rural and northern communities.
The northwestern Manitoba wildfires led to mandatory evacuation orders being issued May 26 and 27 for Sherridon and Lynn Lake, respectively. Sherridon residents were able to go home on June 14, while Lynn Lake residents followed on June 20.
Roughly 4,800 evacuees from the city of Flin Flon, who were ordered to leave on May 28, began to return home on Wednesday.
Stevens said evacuees staying in Ontario have been gradually returning to Manitoba over the last week.
The Leila Avenue evacuation centre in Winnipeg has stopped operating as a congregate shelter, but remains open as a reception centre, she said. Congregate shelters in Thompson and Nelson House have also closed.
About 70 evacuees are still at a shelter in Sagkeeng First Nation, said Stevens, but there are hotel rooms available for those wishing to move.
Find the latest wildfire information:
Are you an evacuee who needs assistance? Contact Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or email 211mb@findhelp.ca.