The Wildfire Program of Manitoba Sustainable Development advises winds are continuing to drive wildfires in the province.
The fire near Beresford Lake has increased in size to approximately 20,000 hectares (ha) and has reached the lake. Sprinkler protection continues on cabins in the area. The mandatory evacuation of the Beresford cottage subdivision of Nopiming Provincial Park continues. PR 312 remains closed.
The fire six kilometers northeast of Caddy Lake, on the Manitoba/Ontario border, has also increased in size to approximately 1,000 ha. This fire is impacting several lakes including West Hawk, Florence and Nora lakes and McDougalls Landing. Sprinkler setups continue for cabins in these areas. Many of the cottages are boat or walk-in access only, requiring boat and barges to transport equipment.
There have been no further evacuations since last evening. Grounds crews, water bombers and helicopters from Manitoba Sustainable Development and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources continue to battle the wildfires.
Manitoba Sustainable Development, Southeast Whiteshell Fire Department and the Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner continue cooperative suppression efforts on these border area wildfires.
Burning permits for the eastern, central and western areas of the province remain cancelled and motorized backcountry travel is banned between noon and 7 p.m. daily in southeast Manitoba. The boundary of the restricted area is from PR 302 east to the Ontario border and from the U.S. border north to Lake Winnipeg and extending north to the Wanipigow River.
In Whiteshell Provincial Park, the Hunt Lake, Mantario and McGillivray Falls hiking trails are closed until wildfire conditions improve. In Birds Hill Provincial Park, campfires will only be allowed in the approved fire pits between the hours of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Travel restrictions are also in place in western Manitoba for Spruce Woods Provincial Park and Spruce Woods Provincial Forest areas, Camp Hughes and the wildlife refuge at the community of Spruce Woods near CFB Shilo. Restrictions for this area include:
- no motorized back country or remote cottage access unless approved by a travel permit,
- camping allowed only in developed campgrounds, and
- launching and landing of boats restricted to developed shorelines.
For further general information on the fire situation or current restrictions go to www.manitoba.ca/wildfire. For additional information on restrictions in eastern Manitoba, contact the eastern region office at 204-345-1444. For information on restrictions in Ontario call 1-807-548-1919. To report a wildfire, call 911 or the T.I.P. line (toll-free) at 1-800-782-0076. The T.I.P. line is dedicated for reporting fires only. All other inquiries should be directed to the other phone lines noted above.
