Wildfires rage near communities in Manitoba's Interlake, Opaskwayak Cree Nation

A state of emergency has been declared due to wildfires threatening First Nations in Manitoba's Interlake region, where homes were lost to flames, while further north, near Opaskwayak Cree Nation and The Pas, people are on high alert.

The Interlake Reserves Tribal Council made the emergency declaration Monday as fires spread in Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation and Pinaymootang First Nation.

"Currently, two wildfires on each side of the road into Kinonjeoshtegon are rapidly approaching toward the community," which has started evacuation procedures, a news release from the IRTC said Monday.

Fuelled by dry conditions and strong winds, the fires pose an immediate danger to the safety and well-being of residents, it said.

A state of emergency had also been called in Peguis on Sunday as a grass fire pushed through the southern part of that First Nation, although the flames were contained Monday morning.

The IRTC release said homes in both Pinaymootang and Peguis were lost during the flames. 

'I feel bad for the people that lost everything'

Peguis Chief Stan Bird said Monday afternoon that there were no life-threatening injuries, but the fire chief did have to be treated for smoke inhalation.

A home and several structures including garages and utility vehicles were destroyed by the fire, he said.

"People wanted to protect their homes," he said. "We had to get the RCMP, our First Nation Safety Officers to tell them that they had to leave … and for myself, that thought [of] 'not again.'"

Bird said residents have been emotionally hurt by the repeated stress of evacuations in the flood-prone First Nation.

Firefighters from Peguis and surrounding communities and neighbouring First Nations worked through the night and into the early morning hours to contain the blaze and save most homes. They continue to monitor hot spots and flare-ups.

About 340 people have been forced to leave Peguis, with some staying in Selkirk and others in Winnipeg.

Alice Thomas, a community elder, went to the community town hall after her daughter told her they were calling on people to evacuate, but she decided to stay home.

"I feel so bad for the people that lost their belongings," she said, adding that she's relieved the situation is now under control.

High-risk area residents urged to evacuate

The IRTC has established an emergency command centre at the Hilton Winnipeg Airport Suites to co-ordinate response efforts and support for those affected.

Residents in high-risk areas are being urged to evacuate the area immediately and seek shelter "as directed by emergency management officials," the release says.

Updates on the situation are being posted on social media channels for the communities, the release says.

In Opaskwayak Cree Nation, a sister community to The Pas, residents in the Bracken Dam area are under a mandatory evacuation order. 

Those who were evacuated from homes in the Big Eddy and Carrot River areas are now allowed to return but have been told to remain on high alert.

"Conditions are still being monitored and residents should be prepared for potential changes," says a news release from the office of the OCN chief and council.

Anyone from Big Eddy and Carrot River who is uneasy about returning home can get temporary shelter at the OCN Veterans Hall or Gordon Lathlin Memorial Arena in The Pas.

'We need people to be wise about fires'

A reception centre for evacuees has been set up at the Wescana Inn Rendezvous Room in The Pas.

Lori Forbes, emergency co-ordinator for the rural municipality of Kelsey, which includes all of the affected communities, said the fires were first spotted Sunday but were still quite a distance from any structures.

"There was some knowledge that the wind direction was going to change last night, which it did. It was very hot and it was very dry, and the wind was gusting up to 40 [km/h]," she said.

"So that's when our concerns really came in."

That prompted the evacuations in Carrot River and Big Eddy while Manitoba Wildfire Services brought in water bombers.

"We are extremely dry in Manitoba. There was snow but there wasn't a lot of moisture in that snow, so we need some really good rainfall," Forbes said.

The RM has put a ban on recreational fires and backcountry travel.

"We need some people to be wise about fires," Forbes said.

Updates are being posted to the RM's Facebook page.