Wildfires in southeastern Manitoba continue to burn out of control, affecting areas including the Rural Municipality of Piney, Whiteshell Provincial Park, and the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet. Manitoba Wildfire Service crews, local fire departments, and emergency responders are working to secure fire perimeters and protect key areas.
Evacuations remain in effect
Evacuation orders remain in place across multiple areas. The RM of Piney has announced that evacuations will continue until Manitoba Wildfire Services changes the status of the fire from ‘Out of Control’ to ‘Being Held’. Residents with questions about lodging or other needs are advised to call the RM of Piney Evacuation Line at 204-905-3143.
In the RM of Lac du Bonnet, mandatory evacuation orders also remain in effect, and RCMP road closures and barricades are still in place. Over 1,000 households have been evacuated, and crews are focusing on extinguishing fires in the Wendigo/Lee River area.
The fire spans approximately 4,000 hectares, and heavy equipment is being used to repair damaged roads to restore hydro infrastructure.
Resources for evacuees
Evacuees from Piney who need assistance or lodging can call the RM of Piney Evacuation Line at 204-905-3143.
For those evacuated from the Lac du Bonnet area, Emergency Social Services is distributing cheques at the Lac du Bonnet Community Centre. Cheques are being issued in the order that registrations were received. If a cheque was not ready today, it can be expected on Sunday at 4 PM.
Arrangements are also being made to distribute cheques in Selkirk on Tuesday, May 20. Those wanting to collect cheques in Selkirk should email essevacuations@gov.mb.ca or call 204-945-5324.
Whiteshell Provincial Park closure remains in effect
The Whiteshell Cottagers Association reports that fires EA061 and EA063 continue to burn in the region. Manitoba Parks is coordinating with Manitoba Wildfire Service to contain the fires, which now cover approximately 4,000 hectares.
The state of emergency and full park closure will remain in place throughout the long weekend. Hydro remains operational in the park.
Next updates
The RM of Piney will provide its next update tomorrow afternoon. Updates from the RM of Lac du Bonnet and Whiteshell Cottagers Association will be shared as soon as new information becomes available.