Thompson residents told to prepare for evacuation due to wildfires

Manitoba’s wildfire season has prompted more people to evacuate from communities, and Thompson is on alert.

The largest city in Manitoba’s north is telling residents to be prepared for a potential evacuation due to wildfires.

The City of Thompson posted on its Facebook page Friday that while an evacuation order has not yet been issued, one may be issued over the next few days.

“This pre-alert notice is being issued because the northwest (edges) of Fire NO005, burning near Cross Lake, could reach Highway 6 and prevent travel to the south,” the notice reads, noting this is a different fire than the one burning north of Thompson.

Fire NO005 is approximately 84,375 hectares in size, while Fire NO061, roughly 14 kilometres from Thompson, is 16,730 hectares. Both fires are currently out of control.

If a mandatory evacuation order is issued, residents are being told they have 12 hours from the time the alert is issued to be out of the town.

A pre-planning registration form is available on the city’s website to help plan the evacuation.

Firefighters with the city are also going into residents’ yards to place sprinklers with hoses on the roofs to help protect homes.

The hoses will be connected to a main line connected to a water source, the town said.

There are currently 107 active wildfires in Manitoba, according to Friday’s fire bulletin.

A congregate shelter will be set up at Winnipeg’s RBC Convention Centre starting July 13. The province’s fire bulletin added another congregate shelter will be open in Portage la Prairie.