Premier urges Manitobans to change long weekend plans amid rash of wildfires

Michelle Gerwing has details on some of the most complex and volatile fires burning in Manitoba.

Premier Wab Kinew is asking Manitobans to change their plans for the upcoming long weekend amid the ongoing wildfire situation.

During a Thursday news conference, the premier asked Manitobans not to set fires on the May long weekend, even if fire bans are not in effect in their region, to avoid putting stress on emergency responses.

“No matter where you are in Manitoba, we’re also asking - no fires, please,” Kinew said. “Any fire that goes out of control, even in an area that’s not dealing with wildfire, could potentially pull resources away from the frontlines where we urgently need help.”

This comes one day after RCMP reported two people were found dead Wednesday in the wildfire in the RM of Lac du Bonnet.

“The news of this loss of life changes what was an emergency into a tragedy,” the premier said, adding flags at the legislature will be lowered to half-mast.

The province announced Whiteshell Provincial Park will close Thursday morning with a state of emergency in effect. This will give people working in the area special powers to enforce the evacuation.

Kinew said more than 1,000 people in Manitoba have been evacuated due to the wildfires, based on numbers from emergency reception centres. An estimated 1,200 people fleeing fires in Ontario have also come to Manitoba.

According to the province, there were 21 active fires burning in Manitoba as of Thursday morning.

The fire near Lac du Bonnet is said to be out of control and is 4,000 hectares in size. However, the province said progress is being made.

“It hasn’t been as intense as the Bird River fire, so we are able to put a lot of resources on that,” said Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister with the Manitoba Wildfire Service.

The Bird River fire is still out of control, and thick smoke has hampered firefighting efforts.

The fire in the RM of Piney is 7,000 hectares and is considered out of control, but the area has received some rain, Hayward said.

The fire in Ingolf, Ont., is roughly 23,000 hectares in size. That blaze has crossed the Manitoba border, and is considered out of control.

Hayward added the province has requested an additional 80 firefighters to come to Manitoba through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.