Continued favourable weather conditions, and work by crews on two active fires in the area around Flin Flon and The Pas, have lessened their impacts and have enabled residents of affected communities to return home as of Sunday, May 19.
Fire WE010 near Flin Flon remains approximately 37,000 hectares. The fireline closest to Cranberry Portage is under control and crews continue to make good progress in other areas.
Residents of Cranberry Portage, Sourdough Bay, Whitefish Lake, Twin Lakes and Schist Lake North were able to return to their homes as of 10am, Sunday, May 19. Barricades have now been lifted and Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 10 and the Sherridon access road has reopened to traffic.
Eight properties were lost to the fire in Sourdough Bay: one permanent residence, five seasonal properties (cottages) and two garages. One permanent residence was lost in Twin Lakes. All property owners have been notified. Aerial crews have also identified a small number of structures believed to be damaged in the other areas affected by the fires that will be confirmed by ground crews in the coming weeks as well as damage to any other structures.
Significant resources continue suppression efforts on fire WE010 including six water bombers, seven helicopters, over 200 provincial personnel, 40 firefighters from Ontario, five from Parks Canada, 20 from New Brunswick and 21 from Quebec.
The province has been receiving reports of drones flying over fire WE010 and near airports in the area. The public is reminded use of drones near airports is illegal and dangerous to aircraft.
Train service has been restored between Cranberry Portage and Pukatawagan.
The Provincial Emergency Social Services reception centres at the Wescana Inn in The Pas and the Victoria Inn in Flin Flon have now closed. A supplemental evacuation allowance of $200 will be issued to those whose primary residences are in Cranberry Portage, Sourdough Bay, Whitefish Lake, Twin Lakes and Schist Lake North. Cheques will be available until end of day on Friday, May 24 at the Cranberry Portage Administrative Office (105 Portage Rd.) from 10am to 4:30pm and in Flin Flon (102-143 Main St.) from 8:30am to 4:30pm, beginning May 22.
Smoke from the wildfire continues to impact communities in the area. Area residents are advised to take precautions to protect against harmful smoke inhalation including limiting outdoor activity, staying indoors with windows and doors closed, setting air conditioning units in homes and vehicles to recirculate to avoid drawing smoke indoors, and drinking plenty of water.
Fire WE011 near Wanless north of The Pas is approximately 2,785 hectares and approximately 2.5 km from the community of Wanless. Crews are working to protect the hydro line between The Pas and Cranberry Portage. The fire is approximately 2 km away from PTH 10. Anyone travelling on PTH 10 may be impacted by poor visibility due to smoke.
Campgrounds in Bakers Narrows and Grass River provincial parks remain closed until at least May 27 including Bakers Narrows, Gyles, Iskwasum Landing and Reed Lake. Backcountry travel along the Grass River from Cranberry Portage to Reed Lake is prohibited. Karst Spring Self-guiding Trail is closed. For updates visit manitobaparks.com.
This season is a popular time for many Manitobans to go camping, open summer cottages and spend time outdoors. Visitors heading to Manitoba Parks should check for the latest fire restrictions and remember to only make fires in approved fire pits. Everyone is reminded to carefully observe fire prevention measures. Always monitor campfires, do not burn in windy conditions and be sure to extinguish campfires completely before leaving by soaking the fire with water and dirt, stirring with a stick or shovel, soaking the fire again and repeating the process until the air above is cool to the touch.
Provincial burning permits are required for outdoor fires set within the burn permit area from April 1 to Nov. 15 annually. To check for municipal burning restrictions, visit gov.mb.ca. Burn permit holders are reminded to check weather conditions, have adequate suppression equipment and ensure proper fuel breaks are in place before burning. Never leave an outdoor fire unattended and always extinguish it before leaving and exercise caution when in or near forested areas.
Further bulletins providing updates on fires WE010 and WE011 will be issued on an as-needed basis going forward. For ongoing updates and other fire information, including wildfire updates and conditions, burn permit information and further details and restrictions, visit gov.mb.ca. To report a wildfire, call 911 or the TIP line (toll-free) at 1-800-782-0076.
