FLIN FLON, Manitoba—The relentless spread of wildfires has forced the evacuation of over 25,000 residents across three Canadian provinces, with numerous fires still active as of Sunday. With air quality declining, affected areas extend into parts of the United States.
In Manitoba, where a state of emergency was declared last week, about 17,000 people were moved to safety by Saturday. Meanwhile, Alberta saw 1,300 evacuees, while in Saskatchewan, relocations included approximately 8,000 individuals, and officials cautioned that this number could escalate.
The deteriorating air quality posed significant health risks, both in Canada and neighboring U.S. states. “Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour,” warned Saskatchewan’s Public Safety Agency.
Firefighting assistance, including personnel and aircraft from other Canadian provinces and U.S. states such as Alaska, Oregon, and Arizona, were deployed to aid in combating the fires. Premier Scott Moe of Saskatchewan praised the support, noting, “We are truly grateful, and we stand stronger because of you.”
Hot and dry weather has exacerbated fire conditions, putting communities at further risk and straining resources for firefighting and supporting evacuees. Moe emphasized the importance of weather changes, saying, “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.”
In northern Manitoba, more than 5,000 evacuees hailed from Flin Flon, located nearly 645 kilometers (400 miles) from Winnipeg. The community of Cranberry Portage, also in northern Manitoba, faced a power outage due to the fires, necessitating a mandatory evacuation for roughly 600 residents.
The blaze threatening Flin Flon originated near Creighton, Saskatchewan, about a week ago and swiftly crossed over into Manitoba. Due to heavy smoke and drone interference, water bombers have faced operational challenges.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has sent an air tanker to Alberta, with plans to dispatch 150 firefighters and additional equipment to support Canadian efforts. Meanwhile, in parts of the U.S., air quality reached “unhealthy” levels on Sunday in areas like North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, and South Dakota, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the U.S., cautioned, “We should expect at least a couple more rounds of Canadian smoke to come through the U.S. over the next week.”
In the U.S. state of Idaho, a separate wildfire has consumed at least 100 acres (40 hectares), leading to road closures and some evacuations. According to the Idaho Department of Lands, at least one structure was burned, though further details remain sparse. Strong winds and harsh terrain have complicated firefighting efforts since the fire’s outbreak on Saturday.
Evacuation centers are up and running throughout Manitoba, with some locations as far south as Winkler, which is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the U.S. border. In Winnipeg, public buildings have been opened up for those fleeing fires, compounded by a lack of hotel availability due to existing commitments for vacationers, business events, and conventions.
Leaders from Manitoba’s Indigenous communities noted that evacuation lodging is overwhelmed. They urged government intervention to prioritize evacuees in local hotel accommodations. Grand Chief Kyra Wilson of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs called the situation one of the largest evacuations since the 1990s, remarking on the distress of evacuees: “It’s really sad to see our children having to sleep on floors. People are sitting, waiting in hallways, waiting outside, and right now we just need people to come together. People are tired.”
Canada’s wildfire season typically extends from May through September, and 2023 has been noted as its most severe to date, engulfing much of North America in harmful smoke for months.