Leaf Rapids evacuation underway, Thompson declares state of emergency due to Manitoba wildfires
Manitoba now at 235 fires in 2025, exceeding average of 187 for this time of year, province says
Thompson, Manitoba's largest northern city, has declared a state of emergency Monday on the heels of numerous wildfires that have forced the evacuation of about half a dozen communities in recent days — with Leaf Rapids residents hurrying to get out.
The Town of Leaf Rapids declared a local state of emergency Monday and told residents they have 24 hours to get out of the northern community, about 155 kilometres northwest of Thompson, in a Facebook post Monday morning.
"We have two fires that are threatening. One is threatening the power lines, and the other is threatening our one and only road out, so that's a big concern," Liz Charrier told CBC News from Leaf Rapids Monday. "It's causing anxiety in our community and everybody is on alert."
As of Monday, there were 81 active fires in the province, many caused by recent lightning strikes, said Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister of the Conservation Officer Service and the Manitoba Wildfire Service.
"More forecasted on the horizon, unfortunately," Hayward said during a provincial wildfire update in Winnipeg on Monday.
There's been a total of 235 fires so far in 2025, far surpassing the 20-year average for this time of year of 187, she said.
The population of Leaf Rapids was about 350 people in the 2021 census. At least 328 will be forced out due to the evacuation, the province said in a fire bulletin on Monday.
"Tension has been building," said Ervin Bighetty, general manager of the Co-op in Leaf Rapids.
Leaf Rapids residents join the roughly 6,600 Manitobans that remain evacuated, said Christine Stevens, assistant deputy minister of the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization. That's compared to about 22,000 evacuated at the peak of wildfires this spring.
A nearly month-long provincewide state of emergency ended two weeks ago thanks to overall improving provincial conditions.
There are several local states of emergency in place now, and six communities have been evacuated: the town of Lynn Lake, Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Wallis Lake Cottage Association, Marcel Colomb First Nation, Mathias Colomb Cree Nation and parts of Nopiming Provincial Park.
Eyes on fires near Thompson
Lynn Lake, a community of 600, emptied out on Friday after a mandatory evacuation order. Residents have mostly settled at hotels in Brandon.
That was the second time the community, about 800 kilometres north of Brandon, had to be evacuated in a little over a month.
About 115 kilometres northeast of Thompson, at least seven houses were razed by flames that spread quickly amid heavy winds in Tataskweyak on Friday, chief and council said in a social media post on Saturday.
A fire burning north of Thompson has that city on edge, and Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, about 65 kilometres to the west, called a local state of emergency Sunday.
The fire threatening Thompson started on Friday and was about seven hectares in size when discovered that morning. By Sunday evening, it had grown to 6,000 hectares, Thompson Mayor Colleen Smook said on Monday morning.
Hours later, Thompson city council voted to declare a state of local emergency.
Hayward said Thompson is not in "immediate danger" over the coming days due to resources on the ground keeping the blaze at bay.
There are no evacuations happening for the city of roughly 13,000, but Smook has advised residents to gas up their vehicles and to pack medications, food and other necessities, in case they have to suddenly leave.
The flames were about eight kilometres away from the city, and heavy machinery was being used to create fire breaks, Smook said. More firefighting crews arrived Sunday night from Winnipeg to help.
Some of them are working to ensure the airport is safe and accessible, said Smook.
"We've got very little wind this week, but you know, come the end of the week, it could be a different story," she said.
Smook urged residents to pay attention to the City of Thompson's Facebook page.
Bighetty is helping co-ordinate local emergency firefighting services in Leaf Rapids.
"People are wondering what's going on and people are getting annoyed…. I get that feeling," Bighetty said. "But a lot of that is contingency so that people are not panicking."
The Leaf Rapids Facebook notice advises people needing help exiting the community to contact the town office.
Buses are scheduled to leave at Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. and everyone must be out by 9 a.m., a provincial wildfire bulletin said.
The provincial government is helping to secure hotel accommodations for evacuees in Winnipeg, but some Leaf Rapids residents may need to stay in a congregate shelter at first.
Hayward said the Leila Soccer Complex in Winnipeg will become a registration centre for evacuees Tuesday morning. Preparations are also underway for it to accommodate evacuees if necessary.
Find the latest wildfire information:
- Canadian wildfire map.
- Province of Manitoba fire bulletins.
- CBC's wildfire tracker.
- Communities under evacuations in Manitoba.
WATCH | Manitoba wildfire update for July 7:
Are you an evacuee who needs assistance? Contact Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or email 211mb@findhelp.ca.
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With files from Meaghan Ketcheson and Gavin Axelrod