Cabin owners in southeastern Manitoba are holding their breath as wildfires continue to rage through the Rural Municipality of Piney.
Hartung’s family cabin at risk
Joel Hartung, who has a family property near St. Labre, says the fire has come dangerously close to their cabin.
"It's been in my wife's family for three generations, maybe four," says Hartung. "Right now, the fire is about two miles away. The last couple of days the wind has been blowing right in the direction of our cabin."
Hartung says his heart goes out to those whose properties are in the fire’s direct path. "Whether it's a primary residence or a vacation place that people have been working on for 50 or 100 years, it's just heartbreaking," he says. "People spend decades building and maintaining these places."
Brandt evacuates rental property and new cabin
Jen Brandt, who has properties in both Woodridge and West Hawk Lake, is also anxious. "Our Woodridge property is rented out full-time," she says. "Our tenants got the call last night at 9:00 that they had to evacuate. They moved some equipment out but had to leave quickly."
Brandt says she is also concerned about the family's new property in West Hawk Lake. "We were there on Wednesday and saw the fires to the north. The fire department knocked on the door at 6:00 last night and everyone had about an hour to get out," she says.
Emotional toll of potential losses
With cabins being such a cherished part of life for many Manitobans, Hartung says the losses can be deeply emotional. "People don't just build these places overnight. They tinker away at them for decades, creating something beautiful. It’s emotional to think about losing that."
Brandt echoes that sentiment, adding that it's not always about the monetary value. "You start thinking about what to grab, and it's not what costs the most — it's what is priceless to you," she says. "Family heirlooms, pictures, the things that can’t be replaced."
Hoping for rain over May long weekend
With May long weekend approaching, many cabin owners had planned to spend time at their properties, but now they’re left waiting for updates and hoping for rain. "We just need rain," says Hartung. "We’re praying that May long brings enough to make a difference."
-With files from Corny Rempel and Carly Koop.