Wildfire evacuees returning home after Tataskweyak Cree Nation lifts evacuation order

Tataskweyak Cree Nation started welcoming wildfire evacuees home on Monday evening, more than two weeks after an out-of-control wildfire forced residents to leave the community.

In a statement posted to Facebook on Monday, Tataskweyak's chief and council announced the evacuation was being lifted at 6:45 p.m. CT that night. 

Council said Red Cross officials will be making travel arrangements for returning community members. 

The northern Manitoba First Nation, also known as Split Lake, declared a state of emergency on May 29 after the community lost power with a wildfire burning only a kilometre away.

An evacuation order was issued the next day. Evacuees from the community were sent to Thompson, Brandon and Winnipeg, as well as Niagara Falls, Ont.

That wildfire is now being contained, according to the council's Monday fire update posted to social media. 

Resident Melanie Spence has been in Thompson since Tataskweyak declared a state of emergency. She plans to drive home on Tuesday. 

"I was cheering. I was so happy. People were crying … they get to go home and reunite with their families, their children, their parents," Spence said.   

She said it has been difficult for evacuees to find a safe place to stay in communities across Manitoba, as nearly 21,000 people were displaced by wildfires in the province.

One of her daughters and four grandchildren were also staying in Thompson, while her mother and her other daughter were sent to Winnipeg. 

They will be reuniting soon as Tataskweyak residents return home. 

"Everybody is just sharing the news and they are very happy," she said.