Winds are pushing a 3,000 hectare wildfire perilously close to a remote northern Manitoba First Nation, forcing community leaders to order a full evacuation of homes while local and provincial fire crews battle the blaze.

Earlier this month, about 300 residents with health concerns were flown from Poplar River First Nation to Winnipeg to escape the smoke. Local leaders called for a full evacuation on Tuesday after the fire crept within about five kilometres of the community of about 1,500 people.

Roughly 600 people have been forced from their homes so far. Four hundred more are set to leave. Others are volunteering to hold their ground to assist with the response.

Manitoba Sustainable Development’s Wildfire Program said the fire was ignited by lightning.

Poplar River is about 345 kilometres north of Winnipeg on the east side of Lake Winnipeg, and can only be reached by small aircraft.

The Canadian Red Cross has arranged hotels, food, and other support in Winnipeg through an agreement with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. Expenses for the response are being covered by the federal government.

So far, there have been no reports of damaged homes. Residents are holding their breath for official updates and word from those at home on social media.

Waylong Bittern has lived in Poplar River his entire life. He arrived in Winnipeg on Wednesday, where he was greeted by his wife, their baby, and a son with asthma. Bittern’s six other children are with a babysitter. They are expected to arrive soon as well.

Bittern said he’s happy his family is safe, but he isn’t planning on sticking around. He wants to catch the last flight back home on Wednesday to protect his house and the rest of the community with the volunteers who stayed behind.

“I don’t feel comfortable sitting in a hotel room when I could be back there helping with the fire,” he told CTV Winnipeg.

Megan Bereas is doing her best to adjust to life in a hotel room with her energetic four-year-old son Creedon, and another child she is pregnant with. The accommodations are fine, she said, but her thoughts are still at home.

“I'm actually very terrified, and I just really want to go home. I’ve been praying for rain,” she said.

Bereas said she’s managed to put on a brave face in front of Creedon.

“He really wants to go home. He has been asking. It’s hard to tell him that there is a fire and that’s the reason why he can’t go home,” she said.

The boy’s father is expected to join them in Winnipeg on Wednesday.

Band councilor Russell Lambert was among the first to be flown to Winnipeg after the initial evacuations started on Aug. 10. Much of his day consists of conference calls with fire officials and conveying updates coming in from the community’s emergency measures team back in Poplar River.

“Everybody is uneasy right now. I know yesterday there was a lot of concern from First Nations members. We’re trying to cope the best we can,” he said.

Lambert has no idea how long it will be before they are able to return to Poplar River. He said he is trying to remain optimistic, but the uncertainty is tough to swallow.

“Things are getting frustrating,” he said. “It depends on the weather. If we get a good downpour, it could be two or three days.”

With a report from CTV Winnipeg’s Josh Crabb