'Resentment is high,' says Whiteshell resident as homeowners, cottagers wait for information about return

Some permanent residents and cottagers at Whiteshell Provincial Park say frustration is growing as they wait to hear when they'll be allowed to return home, after the province of Manitoba lifted evacuation orders for some parts of the park earlier this week.

The province issued an evacuation order on May 13, closing the eastern Manitoba park on May 15 due to extreme fire conditions. On Thursday, Manitoba Parks let permanent residents, cottagers and commercial operators return to Falcon Lake and Barren Lake, in the south of the provincial park. 

Manitoba's latest fire bulletin shows a wildfire burning at the Manitoba-Ontario border, near Ingolf, had reached a total 32,000 hectares in size, with about 1,650 hectares on the Manitoba side.

In that Friday update, the province reiterated that some parts of the Whiteshell were safe but said "more suppression is needed" before other areas can reopen.

Golf courses have resumed operations, fishing tournaments are underway and couples are celebrating their weddings this weekend at Falcon Lake, said Brian Zimmerman, a permanent Whiteshell resident.

But about 11 kilometres northeast of Falcon Lake, his home at West Hawk Lake is still under an evacuation order. 

"We just keep being told that the fire is still going and it's in danger," Zimmerman said. "But it's not near our place at all, and we just don't understand how seven minutes away, everything is open.

"One extreme to the other in that little bit of space and there's just no answers for it."

A spokesperson for the province said Manitoba is working to protect lives and ensure firefighters can do their jobs safely. As soon as people can return, they will be notified, the statement said. 

Updates 'word of mouth or via Facebook': resident

But Jocelyn Martin, who has had a home at West Hawk Lake with her husband, Jason Martin, for 25 years, said residents and cottagers have largely been left in the dark, combing through social media posts to figure out what's happening.

"Most of the updates about the fires and the evacuation have been coming through word of mouth or via Facebook," Jocelyn Martin said. 

She said the community has largely been left to gather information on their own, leading to growing frustration over what they say is lack of communication from Manitoba Parks and provincial officials. 

"The resentment is high," said Jocelyn. "It's becoming ugly amongst the community because of the lack of communication."

She said communication on the decisions to open some areas and close others should be better communicated, especially when they're so close together.

"Two kilometres from here, nobody can go home and to their business, but we are watching people go to the golf course and a fishing tournament. ...I'm not against any of this, these weddings that are here this weekend," she said.

"The frustration for people ... just really close to here and close to the spots in the north Whiteshell that are not open beside open areas, people don't understand."

Jason Martin said he and Jocelyn are taking each day as it comes, couch-surfing while waiting for updates.

"I don't think anybody wants to go back into the park or to a cottage or to a home, like ours, with any risk. That's not the concern, but the lack of detail and misinformation and misdirection," he said.

Barb Bobychuk has been staying in Winnipeg since the wildfires forced her out of her home in Caddy Lake. She was hoping to get an update on when her family might be allowed back home on Saturday.

"We've had no communication from the government, we have no clue as to when we're going to be allowed back, even though the fires in the north have not changed direction," Bobychuk said. 

Bobychuk said she got the evacuation order through word of mouth, unlike during a wildfire in 2016, when Manitoba Parks went door to door. 

The province said it provides regular updates on the fire to park residents and cottagers through the chamber of commerce and the Whiteshell Cottagers Association. 

But Bobychuk said information is not shared daily, and often lacks key details that would help her understand better why she can't go home.

"We don't know where the fires are burning, if they're burning close to us, any hot spots, who's working them," she said. 

By contrast, she says when she checks the Ontario forest fire website for information on the Kenora 20 fire — burning just across the border— an "absolute breakdown" is given.

She said a dedicated website for Whiteshell fire updates "is something that should have been done and instituted immediately."

"If we had knowledge, we would then feel a little better," said Bobychuk.

Whiteshell residents say there's a frustrating lack of communication about wildfire situation

5 days ago

Duration 2:01

Some permanent residents and cottagers at Whiteshell Provincial Park say frustration is growing as they wait to hear when they'll be allowed to return home, after the province of Manitoba lifted evacuation orders for some parts of the park earlier this week.