A spokesperson for Manitoba Wildfire Service says we need a good soaking rain to change the current situation in our province.
Kristin Hayward is Assistant Deputy Minister, responsible for the Wildfire Service. She says the weather this week has created very challenging conditions.
"We have hot, hot weather right now," says Hayward. "We have dry conditions, we have had some very windy days, and we expect that to continue today as well as into tomorrow."
She says though the forecast is calling for rain this week, the forecasted amounts are not what is needed to either extinguish the fires or make a noticeable difference.
"So, we are going to be having another challenging day in terms of being able to fight these fires that we currently have and address any new fires that may start," she adds.
Hayward says what is needed is a good soaking rain of a couple of inches, lasting several days. She adds high humidity levels and lower temperatures would help the situation.
According to Hayward, there are a number of fires that are currently burning across the province. She says their predominant concern is the fire near Lac du Bonnet, noting it started on Tuesday and is still burning out of control. Then there is the fire near Bird River, which has consumed about 100,000 hectares and is also considered out of control. Hayward adds they are also actively watching the fire near Ingolf, Ontario. And, she says they have heavy equipment working the fire near Badger, in the Rural Municipality of Piney, which is also considered out of control.
Hayward says right now, Manitoba is one of the most active jurisdictions in Canada, in terms of the complexity of fires.
Meanwhile, Christine Stevens, Assistant Deputy Minister for Manitoba Emergency Management Organization, says as of Wednesday at noon, there are 24 active fires burning across Manitoba. Stevens says six of those fires are requiring a significant and prompt response. She adds a number of communities have issued mandatory evacuation notices. Stevens says five provincial parks, three local authorities, three Northern Affairs communities, and 24 cottage subdivisions have issued mandatory evacuation orders. Six states of local emergencies have been declared.
"The message that we want to send out to Manitobans today is that if you do not need to be in the parks, and if you do not need to be in the areas where first responders need to access, we are asking you to stay away," says Stevens. "Staff need space to be able to respond to this event."
She adds this is very much a live response type of situation where crews are working to protect people, critical infrastructure, and property.
"Our message to folks who are currently in the Whiteshell area, but not in an area impacted by an evacuation, our message to you is that we want you to stay alert, we want you to monitor for communication from the local authority and we want you to follow their direction because this is a dynamic situation," she adds.