Two northern Manitoba First Nations are evacuating their residents due to wildfire’s impact. In a statement on Sunday, the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) said residents of Marcel Colomb First Nation (MCFN) and O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation (OPCN) are evacuating. Marcel Colomb First Nation, located about 800 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, has activated its evacuation plan. The nation is evacuating due to the mandatory evacuation of Lynn Lake, Man. which “serves as a key supply and service hub for the First Nation. “With limited access to critical resources and infrastructure, conditions are unsafe for MCFN residents to remain in their Nation, prompting the immediate evacuation of approximately 110 members,” the statement read. READ MORE: Lynn Lake final evacuation flight leaving, fire grows nearly 3 times in size In OPCN’s case, the nation is under a state of emergency and evacuating priority residents – those in need of medical assistance – due to wildfire activity that has cut off access to Highway 493, the only road into OPCN. The leadership is coordinating the evacuation of Priority 1 and 2 residents with emergency partners, the statement said. “Initial air evacuations are underway, with approximately 200 priority evacuees expected to be transported (Sunday and Monday). Emergency partners at the Canadian Red Cross and Indigenous Services Canada are working together to coordinate response efforts.” Reception centres are being established to help arriving evacuees. CTV News reached out to the Canadian Red Cross and Indigenous Services Canada for additional information.
