Manitoba battling two wildfires around Flin Flon and The Pas, evacuation orders in effect
The province says several government agencies are currently responding to two wildfires around Flin Flon and The Pas.
In a fire bulletin released Sunday, the province confirmed evacuation orders have been issued for a number of homes and cottages in the area, and nearby residents are being asked to be prepared should the situation worsen.
It says the fires are extra impactful due to drought conditions and high winds.
Cranberry Portage began the process of evacuating to The Pas last night, and around 500 residents are currently affected.
Officials say the Rural Municipality of Kelsey has established a reception centre at the Wescana Inn to register evacuees assist with accommodations.
A reception centre is also available at the Victoria Inn in Flin Flon to help evacuees from multiple areas including Sourdough Bay, Twin Lakes Cottage, Whitefish Lake Cottage, Schist Last North Cottage, Bakers Cottage and Bakers Narrows Provincial Park.
Since Saturday evening, the fire near Flin Flon has grown to encompass around 35,000 hectares, and is 38 km long and 12 km wide, and the province says it has moved to within one kilometer of Cranberry Portage.
Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 10 is closed off south of Cranberry Portage, and at Baker’s Narrows.
Access to Sherridon Road has also been impacted as the fire crossed a section of railway in the area.
The province will be receiving interprovincial support. Air tankers from Manitoba are joining ones from Saskatchewan, and additional crews from Ontario are expected to arrive in a day or two.
The fire near Wanless is now 1,500 hectares.
There is also a communication outage impacting Flin Flon, Sherridon and Sourdough Bay between Flin Flon and Cranberry Portage.
On Sunday afternoon Manitoba Hydro posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “a wildfire near Flin Flon has caused outages to Cranberry Portage, Bakers Narrows, and Sourdough Bay.”
The crown corporation does not know when power will be restored but will patrol “lines and substations for damage” when it is safe for its crews.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6778341.1708561001!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'I got no remorse': Greg Fertuck, convicted of murdering missing spouse, sentenced to life in prison
Greg Fertuck will spend life behind bars with no chance of parole until he is 90 years old, a judge ruled on Thursday at Saskatoon's Court of King's Bench.
'Ford's dry summer begins': All LCBO stores closed as workers go on strike
All LCBO stores are closed on Friday as thousands of workers hit the picket lines after their union and employer failed to reach an agreement.
How does Canada's lowest hourly minimum wage stack up to the rest of the country?
Hourly minimum wages increased in several Canadian provinces this spring with more on the horizon, which economists say will likely impact workers and businesses differently.
Crocodiles cannot outnumber people in Australian territory where girl was killed, leader says
Crocodile numbers in Australia's Northern Territory must be either maintained or reduced and cannot be allowed to outstrip the human population, the territory's leader said after a 12-year-old girl was killed while swimming.
Possible shark sighting temporarily closes popular Maritime beach
A suspected shark sighting caused a popular Nova Scotia beach to close temporarily Thursday.
Canadian couple 'very frustrated' after WestJet strike, Hurricane Beryl cancels flight home
After 10-plus years as a loyal WestJet traveller, Jennifer Hewitt says she is swearing off the Canadian airline after a series of unforeseen flight cancellations left her and her husband still stranded in Jamaica.
Canada's global reputation suffering under Trudeau, Garneau asserts in autobiography
Former foreign affairs minister Marc Garneau says Canada has lost its standing in the world under the tenure of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he criticizes as an ill-prepared leader who prioritizes politics and makes big pronouncements without any follow-through.
Police seize loaded gun and $3.5M in drugs after arresting man in Mississauga
An investigation into an armed individual in a Mississauga neighbourhood has led to the seizure of drugs that carry an estimated street value of $3.5 million, police say.
A new U.K. government renews hopes for a free-trade deal with Canada
The major shift in the British political landscape after Thursday's election will likely have little impact on Canada's relationship with its ally across the pond, experts say, though it is reviving hope for a possible free-trade deal.