Multiple wildfires continue to grow and surround the town of Leaf Rapids in northwestern Manitoba.
Officials have issued a mandatory evacuation order saying residents should be prepared to leave by 10 a.m. Tuesday.
About 350 people from the community, which is north of The Pas, will have to make the 10-hour drive to Winnipeg. Thompson isn’t an option for evacuees, as the northern Manitoba city is also currently under wildfire threat.
Evacuees are being asked to report to the WSF Soccer Complex on Leila Avenue in Winnipeg and to bring important items, including medications, clothing, hygiene items, money, credit cards and identification.
The town said in a social media post on Monday morning that it will provide transportation to Winnipeg via coach bus on Tuesday morning for those without their own vehicles or are unable to make other arrangements.
Fire crews are currently battling a total of 81 wildfires in eastern and Northern Manitoba, provincial officials said, with 235 reported this season overall — almost 50 fires above the average for this time of year.
Get breaking National news
Kristn Hayward with the Manitoba Wildfire Service said Monday at a press conference that it’s not that unusual to see such a high number of fires.
What we do see normally around July and into August is an escalated level of activity due to lightning and thunderstorms that move through the province,” Hayward said.
“We’re definitely above average for the number of fires we’ve had so far this year, and we will definitely also be high in terms of area burned — because the number of fires we’ve had that have been very large is abnormal.”
The province continues to monitor the situation, but officials say there are no intentions of calling another Manitoba-wide state of emergency.
Comments