More evacuations from northeastern Manitoba as wildfire balloons in size

More than a week after a raging wildfire started burning out of control in northeastern Manitoba, another community has begun evacuations due to the threat of smoke to vulnerable residents. 

A partial evacuation started at Manto Sipi Cree Nation on Tuesday evening, with 46 residents fleeing the community. Over 200 more are expected to leave in the coming days.  

Manto Sipi is the latest community in northeastern Manitoba to face evacuations due to the wildfire south of Gods Lake, which has now ballooned to 24,320 hectares in size, from 6,000 hectares just a couple of days earlier, according to the province.

The fire had already prompted partial evacuations from Wasagamack, Red Sucker Lake and God's Lake First Nations over the weekend.

Manto Sipi Chief Michael Yellowback said the decision was made at a band council meeting on Monday, as the First Nation was under a cloud of heavy wildfire smoke. The air quality worsened, and flights with grocery supplies for the community couldn't land because of the poor visibility.

"That triggered us to initiate an evacuation order," Yellowback told CBC Wednesday, adding the band council contacted Indigenous Services Canada and the Red Cross Monday morning to start flying vulnerable residents, including elders with health concerns and people with respiratory issues, out as soon as possible. 

Evacuations didn't begin until Tuesday evening, more than a day after the order was issued. Yellowback said a flight took 46 residents to Brandon, nearly 700 kilometres to the southwest of Manto Sipi.

The community is set to evacuate a total of 250 residents, with more flights planned for Wednesday and Thursday. 

Some of  those eligible to leave have decided to stay in the community, but "[the] majority of the people have agreed to travel out," said Yellowback.

The smoke has started to recede, but still poses a threat to community members.

"We're encouraging the community not to open their windows and to exercise caution," Yellowback said.

Rain brings respite from smoke

Precipitation near Beaver Lake, west of the wildfire, on Tuesday night gave some respite from the heavy smoke to some communities that had been blanketed for several days now. Environment Canada said 10 to 20 millimetres of rain fell in the area.

God's Lake First Nation Chief Gilbert Andrew said his community got some of that rain, which helped to slightly clear up the air overnight.

Although the blaze is still at least 20 kilometres away from the community, wind gusts continue to blow wildfire smoke in.

Evacuations from God's Lake First Nation began last Wednesday, after authorities decided to evacuate around 200 people over health concerns from the smoke, Andrew said. 

Several rounds of air evacuations flew vulnerable residents, including children, elders and people with breathing problems, about 550 kilometres southwest to Winnipeg. 

"People were anxious. They did not know what would happen," Andrew said. 

No more evacuations are planned at the moment, but Andrew said there is no timeline yet for the return of evacuees to  God's Lake First Nation.

The Canadian Red Cross said 227 people from God's Lake First Nation are currently registered and staying at hotels in Winnipeg, along with 300 from Wasagamack First Nation and 211 from Red Sucker Lake Anisininew Nation.

There are also 204 evacuees from Marcel Colomb First Nation, in northwestern Manitoba, registered with the Red Cross at Winnipeg hotels, after a fire forced the full evacuation of that community.

The province says as of Wednesday, there are 58 wildfires in Manitoba, 16 of which are burning out of control. In addition to support from Ontario, two water bombers have been sent from Quebec to help fight the Manitoba fires, along with an observation plane from New Brunswick, the province said.