The Wildfire Program of Manitoba Sustainable Development advises that seven new wildfires have started, including two major fires burning in the southeast portion of the province, straddling the Manitoba-Ontario border.
Crews are working on fires in the following areas:
- near Lake Winnipegosis;
- near Peguis First Nation;
- near Whitemouth, assisting Whitemouth Fire Department;
- near Dauphin River;
- near the Sagkeeng First Nation, assisting its local fire department;
- east of Beresford Lake, near the Manitoba/Ontario border, Manitoba and Ontario crews with support from the Office of the Fire Commissioner, are fighting a fire approximately 10,000 hectares (ha) with the winds pushing it east into Ontario; and
- six kilometres northeast of Caddy Lake, on the Manitoba/Ontario border, approximately 300 ha. Wind is pushing the fire into Ontario, water bombers from Manitoba and Ontario worked on this wildfire yesterday evening. Ontario has taken over the suppression operations for this wildfire with Manitoba crews assisting.
So far this year, 45 wildfires have been recorded to date while the average for this date is 70. Recent hot weather, dry conditions and high winds have increased the fire risk. Manitobans are urged to be extremely cautious and make every effort to prevent fires in their area.
Burning permits for the eastern, central and western areas of the province remain cancelled and motorized back country 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 the Winnipeg River including the Mars Hill Wildlife Management Area.
In addition, there are restrictions on activities in Spruce Woods Provincial Park and Spruce Woods Provincial Forest. This area also includes Camp Hughes and the Spruce Woods Wildlife Refuge at near CFB Shilo. Restrictions include:
- allowing camping only in developed campgrounds;
- restricting launching and landing boats to developed shorelines; and
- having no back-country travel or remote cottage access unless approved by a travel permit, which is issued at the discretion of the local conservation officer.
In Birds Hill Provincial Park, campfires will only be allowed in the approved pits, between the hours of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. In all other provincial parks, campfires are permitted in approved pits with no additional restrictions. In the Whiteshell Provincial Park, the Mantario, Hunt Lake and McGillvary hiking trails are closed until the wildfire conditions improve.
For additional information on these restrictions, contact the nearest Manitoba Sustainable Development office.
To report a wildfire, call 911 or the T.I.P. line (toll-free) at 1-800-782-0076.
For areas where ATV use is allowed, riders are reminded they can play a role in protecting against wildfires. Anyone using an ATV is asked to stay on developed trails, ensure the ATV has a working spark arrestor, check areas around the engine and exhaust frequently, and carefully remove and extinguish any debris from these areas. Operators are also reminded to be prepared by carrying a fire extinguisher, axe and shovel.
For further general information on the fire situation or current restrictions go to www.manitoba.ca/wildfire.
