Manitoba Wildfires Trigger State of Emergency and Mass Evacuations
The Canadian province of Manitoba has declared a state of emergency as wildfires rage across the region, leading to the evacuation of over 17,000 residents.
Emergency Declaration and Response
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced the state of emergency, emphasizing the severity of the situation. He has requested assistance from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, seeking military support for both evacuation efforts and firefighting operations. Military aircraft are being deployed to move people to safety.
Communities Under Threat
Flin Flon, a town of approximately 5,000 residents, is among the areas under evacuation orders. Other remote towns and Indigenous communities have also been evacuated, with many residents being relocated to Winnipeg.
Eyewitness Accounts
Sheryl Matheson, an evacuee, described the terrifying scene as wildfires surrounded her hometown. Another resident, Elsaida Alerta, shared the stress of the evacuation, highlighting the jammed highways and depleted resources.
The Scale of the Fires
Premier Kinew highlighted the unprecedented nature of the fires, noting that fires are active in every region of the province. Kirstin Hayward of the Manitoba wildfire service reported that nearly 200,000 hectares of forests have been scorched in the past month.
National Impact
Across Canada, 134 wildfires are currently burning. Manitoba has the highest fire activity in Canada this year due to prolonged warm and dry conditions. This follows Canada's worst wildfire season on record in 2023.
