FLIN FLON, Manitoba — In a challenging development due to the ongoing wildfire crisis, approximately 17,000 inhabitants of Manitoba, Canada, have been evacuated amid nearly 24 active wildfires within the province. The tumult has escalated, especially in Flin Flon, where over 5,000 residents have been forced to evacuate as the outlook remains dry with no anticipated rainfall. As of Saturday, while no buildings in the city — which is positioned roughly 645 kilometers (400 miles) from Winnipeg, the provincial capital — have been lost to flames, authorities remain concerned about potential wind changes possibly bringing the fire into urban spaces.
A state of emergency was officially declared in Manitoba on Wednesday. This urgent measure came as fires ranging from the northwest to southeast parts of the province, directly north of the states of Minnesota and North Dakota, prompted evacuations across several communities. The consequences aren’t confined to Canadian borders, as smoke drifts into parts of the U.S. and degrades air quality southward.
In addition to Manitoba, thousands are contending with wildfire crises in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Notably, 1,300 residents of Swan Hills, northwest of Edmonton, have been evacuated, underscoring a broader regional emergency. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe acknowledged the situation during a press release, emphasizing how ongoing high temperatures and dry conditions are exacerbating the intensity of the fires. Moe cautioned that the current count of 8,000 evacuees in Saskatchewan could balloon to 10,000, reflecting the volatile nature of the scenario.
Resources to combat the fires and shelter evacuees are being stretched, with Moe stating, “The next four to seven days are absolutely critical until we can find our way to changing weather patterns, and ultimately a soaking rain throughout the north.”
Highlighting international support, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service awarded an air tanker to assist Alberta. Additionally, the United States is bolstering efforts with 150 firefighters and gear such as sprinkler kits, pumps, and hoses for the Canadian response. Brooke L. Rollins, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, remarked, “We are here to help our neighbors during their time of need, and our Forest Service Wildland Firefighters are the best in the business.”
In a particular distressing moment of the crisis, the fires triggered a power outage in Cranberry Portage, Northern Manitoba, mandating an evacuation of around 600 individuals. Adjacent small communities were prompted to prepare for possible evacuations as a blaze encroached upon a major highway.
Lori Forbes, emergency coordinator for the Rural Municipality of Kelsey, used social media to urge residents, “Please start getting ready and making plans to stay with family and friends as accommodations are extremely limited.”
The province has been proactive, establishing evacuation centers for those displaced, including a center in Winkler, Manitoba, merely 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the U.S. border. Moreover, efforts to evacuate Pimicikamak Cree Nation accelerated on Saturday with several flights arranged to transport residents to Winnipeg. Chief David Monias detailed on social platforms, “The wildfire has crossed the main road, and the area remains filled with smoke and ash.”
Winnipeg is actively participating in relief efforts, converting public buildings into temporary housing for evacuees as the city’s hotels reach maximum capacity due to preexisting bookings and event attendees.
Manitoba’s Indigenous leaders addressed the gravity of the situation, revealing that available hotel accommodations are fully occupied and pushed for government intervention to prioritize evacuees for lodging. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson remarked that this evacuation is among the most extensive since the 1990s, lamenting the circumstances where children sleep on floors and evacuees congregate in hallways.
The fire threatening Flin Flon initiated near Creighton, Saskatchewan, on Monday and swiftly crossed into Manitoba. Firefighting teams faced difficulties managing the blaze, impeded by smoke and a drone disturbance that hindered water bomber operations.
Residents of Creighton, totaling around 1,200, have been instructed to evacuate, with many relocating to Nipawin, Saskatchewan. Overall, more than 8,000 individuals have fled wildfires affecting Saskatchewan. Canada’s wildfire season, historically running from May through September, witnessed its most severe season in 2023, casting smoke across North America for extended durations.