Wildfires could start as early as this weekend in Manitoba due to dry conditions officials say
Manitoba's wildfire services warns amid rising temperatures and drought conditions, flames could spark as early as the weekend. That's causing concern for one First Nation community still reeling from last year's wildfire fight.
The memories of the towering flames that cut off Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) are still fresh in the mind of Chief David Monias.
"I see the fire 100 feet in the air, all the embers flying towards our community," he said.
The wildfire cut off his community last May, forcing a massive emergency evacuation.
"We had to evacuate people 7,000 people in three hours," he said. "We were left to fend for ourselves, and a lot of times that's what happens, is that nobody is coming and running to save us."
Monias is worried it may happen again, and he's looking to the province for help.
"We just need to be better equipped. Right now, we have one fire truck in a community of 8,000 people," he told CTV News. "We need better resources. We need water and sewer (systems), so we can have fire hydrants."
This year the province has upped its spending for wildfire protection.
Manitoba is budgeting $8 million, which will cover the cost of five initial attack trucks used to transport crews to fire sites, and provide upgrades and new bunkhouses at wildfire program base stations across the province.
"These are the steps we're taking to make sure we're prepared for fire season in Manitoba," said Jamie Moses, Manitoba's minister of economic development, investment, trade and natural resources.
Those dollars may be put to use sooner than expected.
"By this coming weekend, we could expect to start getting some fires," Earl Simmons, the acting director of the Manitoba Wildfire Service told CTV News.
He said Manitoba typically sees more than 400 wildfires burning 250,000 hectares each year.
"Going into the spring, typically we find most of our fires are human-caused," Simmons said.
This year could be a busier year for the wildfire service, as much of the prairies remain in drought conditions according to Canada's Drought Monitor.
"Some of the predictions we're getting this year, because of the drought situation we went into last fall, is concerning. Especially on the west side of the province up towards the northwest corner."
It's an area that comes too close for comfort for Monias. He said, should flames threaten his community again, he wants the province to step up.
"Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst. We have to do that, I mean there's so many lives at stake," he said.
Moses said he welcomes conversations with First Nations, and said the province wants to work with them.
"We've been working very collaboratively with northern communities who are the most impacted by wildfires. So we welcome those sorts of conversations that would enable us to protect Manitobans and do our part to fight against wildfires," he said.
If you see a wildfire, you can call 911 or the wildfire tip line at 1-800-782-0076.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I have the will to live': N.B. woman needs double lung transplant
A New Brunswick woman suffering from sarcoidosis, a disease that limits your lung capacity, is in need of a double lung transplant.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Video shows suspect setting Toronto-area barbershop on fire
Video of a suspect lighting a Richmond Hill barbershop on fire earlier this week has been released by police.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial
Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.