A northern Manitoba community has been evacuated due to a massive forest fire that has been burning for the last several days.
Approximately 100 people in Ilford, MB have been moved to Thompson, roughly 150 kilometers away.
The Manitoba Conservation website states lightning sparked two fires on Thursday now spanning an estimated 9,000 hectares combined they were still listed as ‘OC’ or ‘out of control’ as of Sunday evening.
Highway 280 between Split Lake and Highway 290 was closed because of poor visibility in the area, the second such closure since Friday evening.
At least 10 water bombers from Manitoba and Saskatchewan have been deployed, along with sprinkler systems to try to protect the 48 homes in Ilford.
The Deputy Mayor of Ilford told Global News residents were given the cue to leave in the middle of the night.
“We started evacuating about 3:30,” said Raymond Beardy in a phone interview. “The wind’s not helping any. They knock it down and it goes right back up again.”
Manitoba Hydro tells Global News a work camp between Thompson and Gillam was also threatened.
More than 100 employees were also evacuated on Friday night and taken to Gillam.
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