'Terrifying': Manitoba resident speaks on wildfire and evacuation
As a pair of wildfires burn near Flin Flon and The Pas, a number of Manitobans are being told to evacuate their homes.
In a news release on Sunday, the Manitoba government confirmed that evacuation orders have been issued for a number of homes and cottages in the area of the fires.
One of the residents who had to evacuate to The Pas is Keith Jaeger, who lives in Cranberry Portage.
Jaeger said he was out with his friends on Saturday night when they noticed some ash falling on them. Once they returned to Cranberry Portage, they were told they had two hours to evacuate, which was shortly cut down to 20 minutes for evacuation.
He said the scene was “terrifying.”
“I don’t think people understand the scale of the flames when you see them in person,” he said in an interview on CTV Morning Live on Monday.
As of now, Jaeger said he is just waiting to hear when it will be safe to return to the community. He noted he hasn’t heard of any property damage in Cranberry Portage, but has heard of some wreckage in nearby communities.
He said his family is staying optimistic.
"Mother’s Day just passed so we’re spending time together, having supper and stuff,” he said.
“We have a lot of family in town so we can kind of bounce between houses and we’re catching up on some visiting.”
Province providing support
Premier Wab Kinew said the province will be there to support Manitobans impacted by the wildfires.
“The government of Manitoba is there with all departments to make sure people have a roof over their head, food, a place to stay, any sort of concerns around home care, medication, health-care services,” he said. “We recognize this is a tough situation where people were forced to leave their homes so quickly.
“Anything that you need, we‘re going to be here and make sure it is provided.”
Kinew said representatives with the departments of health, finance, and families are at evacuation centres to assist people.
The premier also praised other provinces for their help. Crews from Saskatchewan and Ontario have been enlisted to help fight the fires.
“Manitoba was very honoured to be able to help some of our Western neighbours last year, and now that we have this situation this year, we’re able to call on the neighbouring provinces as well,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkeled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.