Northern Manitoba community evacuates due to wildfire; some starting to return home
Some people are starting to return home Thursday after a wildfire burning near a northern Manitoba community prompted emergency evacuations of more than 7,000 people Wednesday night.
Pimicikamak Cree Nation community members began fleeing the community as a fire burned roughly two to three kilometres south of the community, according to a bulletin from the province. Photos and videos from the community show a long line of vehicles heading to other locations.
A line of vehicles is seen leaving Pimicikamak Cree Nation due to a fire on May 24, 2023. (Source: Precious Umpherville)
In an interview on Thursday, Chief David Monias credited the emergency response team the community had created during the pandemic as one of the reasons they had a successful evacuation. The team worked to secure vehicles and school buses to help people who couldn’t travel to easily evacuate.
“We were used to working together and evacuating people and moving a large number of people,” he said.
A wildfire burns in Cross Lake, Man. on May 24, 2023. (Image source: David Monias)
Monias said residents have gone to Thompson, The Pas and Brandon. Others went to Winnipeg, but have yet to secure hotel accommodations.
He said the community had been monitoring the fire over several days, noting it flared up significantly on Wednesday, and he was worried about what could happen to the community.
“Fires are very unpredictable,” Monias said. “There was a point we were worried about the community, but we were more worried about people’s lives."
Monias added that rain in the forecast was helping improve the wildfire situation in the area, and that people could begin returning home.
“We're trying to bring people home now. People that are healthy, that don't have asthma or COPD, or respiratory problems,” he said.
The wildfires are closing in on Cross Lake. (Source: Dustin Ross)He added, “We're confident that the people will be safe coming back. There's still some smoke lingering in the air, but we have a little bit of rain. So thank God for that. Our prayers were answered.”
The City of Thompson said it is coordinating an emergency response to the evacuation and redeploying staff to help. The Thompson Regional Community Centre (TRCC) is being used for evacuees.
“The first evacuees arrived around 3:30 a.m. and hundreds more have been incoming since, with more than 1,000 Cross Lake residents at the TRCC as of 8 a.m.,” a statement from the city posted on social media says.
“The City of Thompson and the School District of Mystery Lake are attempting to find mats for evacuees to sleep on as the Red Cross does not have emergency response materials in the north and will have to ship them up from Winnipeg.”
The city says the TRCC is expected to remain closed until the evacuation ends and displaced residents can return home.
A wildfire has prompted an evacuation of 7,000 people from Cross Lake, Man. (source: Dustin Ross)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.