Re-entry permitted in part of Lac du Bonnet following evacuations

Wildfire evacuee Marilyn Brick talks about how quickly she and her family had to leave her cottage near the Ontario-Manitoba border.

Residents in one area of Lac du Bonnet, Man., are permitted to return following wildfire-related evacuations, however others will be waiting longer to head back.

Loren Schinkel, the reeve of the RM of Lac du Bonnet, said that although the fire is contained to one area, there were some flare-ups on Thursday night.

“They have some concerning hotspots that they continue to deal with, and certainly Mother Nature is going to help us with that today, but we have to be very clear and honest with our residents; It’s all about the safety of them,” he said.

Re-entry is authorized for the Wendigo Road subdivisions and residences from PR 313 to Newcombe Road as of 8 p.m. on Thursday.

All businesses in this area must remain closed under the authority of the state of local emergency. Roadblocks will remain in place north and south of this area to prevent any non-authorized traffic.

All other areas between Wendigo Road in the west, PR 313 in the east, Lake Lac du Bonnet in the north, and extending south to include the subdivisions south of PR 313 between Belluck and Urban Roads remain under evacuation orders. Travel in these areas is prohibited.

“It doesn’t look like these things will change for the next 24 to 72 hours,” Schinkel said.

As of Thursday, 28 homes and cottages in the Lac du Bonnet area have been destroyed by the wildfire.

Schinkel said Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority has reached out to provide counselling services for people if they need it.