Manitoba fires expected to grow with high winds, province says

Forest fires along the Manitoba-Ontario border continue to spread, and high winds and dry conditions are to blame, the province says.

Earl Simmons, a spokesperson with Manitoba Sustainable Development's fire program, said winds and warm temperatures headed to eastern Manitoba are likely to fuel fires raging on in Whiteshell Provincial Park and around Nopiming Provincial Park Tuesday.

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As of Monday afternoon, the province estimated the fire east of Caddy Lake in the Whiteshell had covered 2,800 hectares, but Simmons said it grew significantly overnight.

According to the province's FireView map Tuesday morning, the fire has spread across 5,100 hectares of forest in the area.

Fifty cottages were evacuated along the east shore of the lake Monday, and sprinklers were installed on another 27 cabins, Simmons said.

Road closures on Highway 312 are still in place, as are evacuation orders for the east shore of Caddy Lake.

Meanwhile, the fire a few hours north edged right up to the west side of Beresford Lake and into the southern reaches of Atikaki Provincial Park Monday, forcing the evacuation of 54 cabins. Sprinkler systems were installed at the cabins, as well as at a lodge and campground in the area, Simmons said.

About 100 firefighters were assigned to battle blazes nearing cabins and other properties around Beresford Lake, the province said. A few sheds in the area have been damaged by fire, but no other building damage has been reported yet, the province added.

About 17 kilometres to the north, evacuation orders remain in place for Wallace Lake. A lodge and 61 homes and cottages in the area were evacuated Monday. 

Officials are also keeping an eye on Long Lake, about 14 kilometres south of Wallace Lake and just to the west of Beresford Lake.

'Where do I go?'

Business owner Brent Bulleé, 33, and his family — his children are two and four years old — live at West Hawk Lake, and they're concerned they could be forced to leave the area soon. The fire near Caddy Lake is creeping south and forced the evacuation of at least seven cottages Monday.

I really, really hope it rains, oh my God!- Brent Bulleé

Bulleé said Monday they were overwhelmed at the thought of having to leave everything behind.

"Everything seems like it's coming this way. One day it's going toward Ingolf, where my properties are, and another day it's coming toward West Hawk, where my properties and businesses [are] and where I raise my family," he said.

"I've got five properties and I can't go to one of them — where do I go? I really, really hope it rains, oh my God!"

'Orange glow … war zone'

West Hawk Lake homeowner flees fire-threatened area, brings family heirlooms along

9 years ago

Duration 0:57

David Grant removes art pieces that his great-grandfather carved in the 1920s. They are just a handful of items he was able to take from his home in West Hawk Lake before he was forced out by the wildfires Saturday night.

David Grant and his family have lived in West Hawk for 16 years and were asked to leave Saturday at about 9:30 p.m. They packed bags, got their cat, reported to the local fire hall that they had evacuated, then slept in their car on a beach where they could see the fire.

"Saturday night when we slept on the beach, it was just a huge orange glow, just sort of a war zone going on," Grant said, adding he and his father built the cabin in the 1970s. "It's disturbing. Like my wife says: 'It turns you upside down.'"  

Their cabin and eight others nearby have been fitted with sprinklers, which Grant said gives them hope their home could be spared if the fire gets any closer.

"We know it won't put the fire out, that's a given," he said. "It's supposed to get quite cold for the week, and that will be helpful; a bit of rain, and for once I'm hoping for snow."

Rain on the way

There's a 30 per cent chance of showers in and around the Beresford and Nopiming area, and a 60 per cent chance of showers for the Whiteshell Tuesday. Simmons expects high humidity and rain in the forecast after Tuesday could help beat back the fire.

To some degree until then, crews are at the whims of the weather. Simmons said the fires are burning so hot and high into the forest canopies that firefighters are focused on just trying to "hold the line ... because it's too dangerous" to mount a more offensive fight.

Simmons added that a larger Manitoba crew is expected to be assembled to help fight the fire near Beresford Tuesday. Nine waterbombers from Manitoba and Ontario continue to douse the blaze, he said.

Officials with the Manitoba and Ontario governments, as well as the Southeast Whiteshell Fire Department, continue to work on the fires.

The most up-to-date news about the fires is available at the @MBGovNews Twitter page and on the province's website.

Fires near Caddy Lake continue to worry residents

9 years ago

Duration 2:25

Forest fires along the Manitoba-Ontario border continue to spread, and high winds and dry conditions are to blame.

With files from CBC's Courtney Rutherford