Pimicikamak Cree Nation to evacuate some residents due to smoke from nearby wildfire

A northern Manitoba First Nation will start evacuating its most vulnerable residents this weekend because of an active wildfire.

Pimicikamak Cree Nation said Friday it's going forward with a staged priority evacuation due to concerns about smoke and poor air quality in the area.

Chief David Monias said about 295 residents who've been labelled Priority 1, including the elderly and people with respiratory issues, will start leaving the community Saturday.

A 1,500-hectare, out-of-control fire on adjacent islands about seven kilometres west of the First Nation community has been active since Wednesday. There's also a smaller fire about 50 kilometres to the southwest.

Monias said with winds forecast to turn on Sunday, Pimicikamak is set to get smoke from both fires.

"Last fire, we lost two people to the smoke," he said. "We're trying to make sure that we take precautions and try to evacuate those priority ones to Thompson and Winnipeg before the smoke turns our way."

About 2,500 people live in the First Nation about 530 kilometres north of Winnipeg which is also known as Cross Lake.

Monias said they're taking precautions so there is not a repeat to a wildfire that forced the sudden evacuation of the community in 2023. That includes making sure there's enough fuel for transportation to get people out and setting up sprinkler systems on top of residences and other buildings.

"We're trying to … pre-plan everything to make sure and of course, you know, with prayers that we may not need it," he said. "But the smoke itself will be very bad for us."

Monias said if the wind doesn't turn toward the community, there's still a risk the fire will burn transmission lines, leaving the community without power.

The community is asking health authorities not to discharge any Priority 1 patients back to Pimicikamak due to the air quality concerns.