Manitoba winds push Caddy Lake fire east, McDougalls Landing evacuated

Winds have pushed a wildfire in Caddy Lake, Man., further east, according to a news release issued by the province on Saturday.

• Wildfires along Manitoba-Ontario border growing, officials say
• Forest fire prompts evacuation of Beresford cottage subdivision at Nopiming park

At last word, the fire covered 700 hectares, and easterly winds predicted for Sunday prompted the evacuation of McDougalls Landing, located about 11 kilometres from West Hawk Lake.

People in remote cabins on the east shore of West Hawk Lake have also been forced to leave.

According to the Manitoba government, there is no access to McDougalls Landing at West Hawk Lake off Provincial Road 312. Smoke and fire forced a road closure between Highway 44 and Ingolf, Ont., past the West Hawk Lake boat launch.

Whiteshell Provincial Park roads remain open, however.

The news release also states that a south Whiteshell emergency plan is being activated, which includes installing sprinkler kits on structures. Travelers are asked to stay away from the fire zone.

'It's quite unnerving'

Robert Granke and his wife were watching the sky turn black with smoke on Saturday evening from their cottage, located on the south end of Caddy Lake.

"It's quite unnerving," he said. "We've been really nervous since the fire started and wanted to be out here to have a look ourselves. So, we were somewhat reassured the last few days but now when we see this it's quite unsettling."

The idea of losing their cottage is troubling for Granke and others in the area, he said.

"It's very scary," he said. "There's a lot of people who have a lot invested and really love to be out here and the prospect of it being damaged is not a very good one."

A second fire burning in Manitoba's Nopiming Provincial Park near Beresford Lake grew to 13,000 hectares as of Saturday. Twenty-five people were forced to flee the area along with six others in remote cottages.