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Wildfire near Leaf Rapids, Man., prompts town to organize evacuation

A wildfire burning near the northern Manitoba town of Leaf Rapids has prompted municipal officials to start organizing a community evacuation to Thompson.

Northern Manitoba town declared state of emergency on Monday evening

CBC News ·
A motorboat sits in the foreground beside a dock while plumes of smoke from a wildfire rise from forest in the background.
The wildfire as seen from Churchill River Lodge, which is about eight kilometres north of Leaf Rapids. (Submitted by Dawn Halcrow)

A wildfire burning near the northern Manitoba town of Leaf Rapids has prompted municipal officials to start organizing a community evacuation.

The town of Leaf Rapids, which is located more than 750 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, declared a state of local emergency in a Facebook post on Monday evening. They said the fire is about eight kilometres from the community and near a hydro line.

Evacuees are headed to the city of Thompson, which is about 156 kilometres southeast of Leaf Rapids.

"Wind direction is expected to change and blow eastward, which will have an impact on air quality," the post states in part.

The post urged residents to ensure they are registered with the town office as evacuation efforts are being arranged.

According to the Manitoba government's wildfire map, the fire was first reported on June 12 and has grown to more than 10,500 hectares in size as of Sunday.

Leaf Rapids has a population of 351, according to the 2021 census.

A large white plume of smoke rises above some trees and a house in summer.
Wildfire smoke is shown near Turnbull Lake on Monday evening, which is south of Leaf Rapids in northern Manitoba. (Submitted by Rick Barentsen)
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