Lynn Lake evacuating due to wildfire threat

A wildfire burning near Lynn Lake has led to a mandatory evacuation of the entire community. CTV’s Daniel Halmarson has the latest details.

A Manitoba community has ordered its residents to evacuate due to an encroaching wildfire.

The Town of Lynn Lake posted on its Facebook page Tuesday morning, saying the town needs to evacuate due to the “imminent” wildfire threat.

Lynn Lake Mayor Brandon Dulewich said the town met with fire officials from the province Monday evening, who explained the wind was expected to change and would start pushing the fire toward the community, with the chance of it crossing the highway.

“Provincial Highway 391, which is our only means in and out of the community in Lynn Lake,” said Dulewich.

The province announced Tuesday afternoon that Highway 391 to Leaf Rapids was closed due to the fire.

The call for a mandatory evacuation was made at 8 a.m., and Dulewich said five buses have already left the community. Each bus can take around 45 passengers.

“We have some more buses arriving around 4 p.m. to take the rest of the people.”

Jason Arnold lives in Lynn Lake and said the situation has become “pretty dire.”

“I know a few people, some of my friends, have already headed south this morning,” he said.

Smoke has overtaken the community, Arnold said. The evacuation has left people feeling uneasy and concerned about what will happen.

“I know my friend and his wife, they’re a little nervous. His wife has never had this scenario before, being this close to a live fire or a mandatory evacuation.”

Dulewich echoed Arnold’s comments, saying people are scared.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty. I understand there’s a fire on (Highway 6) south of Thompson that could potentially close that. A lot of residents were hoping on driving as far as Thompson and pressing further to family members’ places. But if the number six shuts down, well, then, the north is isolated,” said Dulewich.

Arnold works at the airport in Lynn Lake and is staying in the community as he is considered an essential service.

While there isn’t much he can do about the wildfire, Arnold said he is working to ensure everyone is able to get out of the community quickly and as safely as possible.

“We’ve got some aircraft coming in, evacuating some workers, and we’re trying to get them turned around as quickly as possible, get them loaded, and out. Not waste any time.”

Dulewich said anyone who is not working for an essential service needs to get out of town as quickly as possible for their own safety. If they stay, he said it might be hard to get them out.

“When the winds change and (the fire) comes, our evacuation plan is we can utilize the military’s Hercules plane. That could land at the airport. It’s got capacity for about 83 people. So if we have any more than that, we can’t take them. So we’re hoping to get most of the people out to just keep a very scarce crew of people to keep lights on, keep water running, so that we still have a chance to fight a little bit.”

A reception centre for evacuees has been set up in Thompson at the Regional Community Centre located at 274 Thompson Drive.

Residents should bring identification, medication, necessary supplies, go bags and pet provisions.

For those without personal transportation, bus transportation is available from West Lynn Heights School.

According to Manitoba’s wildfire map, the fire was 7,064.9 hectares in size as of Monday and is out-of-control.

- With files from CTV’s Daniel Halmarson