Manitobans are urged to be fire smart as wildfires continue to burn out of control in our province.
Kristin Hayward is Assistant Deputy Minister, responsible for the Wildfire Service. She says as of late Tuesday, there were 18 active wildfires in our province. The total number of fires so far this year in Manitoba is 96. By comparison, the 20-year average for fires by May 27th is 77.
"So, we are well above average," she remarks.
So far this year, more than 198,000 hectares of land has burned in Manitoba. Our five-year average is 70,500 for an entire year. That means we have nearly tripled our annual average in just one month.
"And this is an abnormal level of fire activity in the province for this time of year," she adds. "That's largely due to conditions, the temperatures, very low humidity, lack of precipitation, and a lot of available fuels."
Hayward says Manitoba has the highest level of fire activity in Canada so far this year.
The public is reminded again that the use of drones near forest fires is prohibited by Transport Canada. Drones interfere with fire-fighting responses and put all water bomber, helicopter, and ground crews at risk. Hayward says unfortunately, aircraft had to be grounded off the fire near Flin Flon on Tuesday due to a drone incursion in the air space over the fire.
"Which is disappointing that folks are not hearing the message that flying a drone near a wildfire is dangerous and does impede our effort to respond," she says.
Premier Wab Kinew urges Manitobans to listen to the rules related to drones.
"Getting some views on YouTube is not worth it," he says. "You've got a community of thousands of people who are on the verge of evacuation and one of the reasons is because we couldn't fly water bombers in the area."
Christine Stevens is the Assistant Deputy Minister with the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization. She says on Tuesday at 7:40 pm, Flin Flon issued a pre-alert evacuation notice to the community, asking residents to stay alert and to plan for a potential short notice evacuation.
Kinew is now asking the rest of the province to get ready to offer support. He notes hotels are already full across Manitoba and so our province will be turning to communities to open their doors.
"If we have to move a community of six thousand people, then we are going to be turning to people for help," he adds.
Kinew stresses the severity of the situation. He says if an official calls asking for the use of a recreation centre or larger facility, to answer the call and say yes.
Meanwhile, Kinew says that since the beginning of the wildfire season, 15 people in Manitoba have already been charged with starting fires. He adds 21 individuals have been issued written warnings.
"If we use our common sense, unless there is a muskrat out there with a Zippo lighter, without rain, without lightning these past few weeks, it's humans that are starting these fires," says Kinew. "It really is important to take the fire ban seriously."
Hayward says all but four of the fires to date in Manitoba are confirmed or suspected to be caused by human activity.
Kinew also extends his words of appreciation to the firefighter from Parks Canada who was injured during the course of their firefighting duties on Sunday. The firefighter sustained severe injuries but is said to be doing well in hospital.
"I just want to say thank you for what you've done to help out," says Kinew. "We wish you a very speedy recovery and the entire province has got your back, as well as the back of everybody on the front lines right now."