Crews facing wind gusts as they battle wildfires in northern Manitoba

Trees burned by wildfires in northern Manitoba are shown during a helicopter tour in the surrounding area of Flin Flon, Man. on Thursday, June 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mike Deal-Pool

LYNN LAKE — A town in northern Manitoba says high winds are forecast as emergency crews work to contain a threatening wildfire.

Lynn Lake says Manitoba Wildfire Services is focusing efforts on fire breaks and protecting the town’s main power line and highway route.

The out-of-control blaze forced the community and two nearby First Nations to evacuate over the weekend, leaving more than 700 people out of their homes.

Lynn Lake said Monday that the fire had grown to around 70 square kilometres, up from 50 square kilometres Saturday.

It says helicopters were in the air as part of the firefighting effort and that more fire management experts were on their way to help.

As of Sunday, there were 127 fires burning in the province, with 12 of them considered out of control.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2026.