The Canadian Red Cross will be helping evacuate “at least 300” residents of Red Sucker Lake First Nation Thursday, according to a news release.
A forest fire in northeastern Manitoba prompted the First Nation leadership and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to begin evacuations of those “whose health would be at the greatest risk.”
“Our team will ensure the evacuees receive the assistance they need during this trying time,” Shawn Feely, vice-president of Manitoba and Nunavut Canadian Red Cross, said in the news release.
Flights started early Thursday afternoon taking the evacuees to Thompson, Man., where they will await other flights to take them to Winnipeg. The evacuees will stay in Winnipeg until the evacuation order is over.
The province said the south end fire started adjacent to Red Sucker Lake First Nation and burned its way north. The head of the fire is approximately seven kilometres away from the community and has grown to 120 hectares.
Perimeter Aviation has changed flights in order to help evacuate the residents to a safe zone, according to post on their Facebook page.
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