Most of Manitoba is under a high fire danger level, as per the most recent wildfire update from the provincial government.
Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister responsible for the Manitoba Wildfire Service (MWS) says there are 81 active wildfires in the province—a jump from the 64 reported on Friday.
Of those, she says 16 fires are threatening communities, primarily in northern Manitoba.
"The number 81 is a lot larger than we've been reporting early on, but it's not crazy unusual," she says. "What we do see normally around July and into August is an escalated level of activity due to lightning and thunderstorms that move through the province."
So far this year, 235 fires have been recorded—48 more than the 20-year average, Hayward says.
"We will definitely also be high in terms of area burned because the number of fires we've had, that have been very large, is abnormal," she notes.
In the eastern region, she says fire EA061, which has consumed Nopiming, has grown about 3,000 hectares (ha) in recent days, particularly toward the north.
On Friday, it was reported to be 251,680 ha.
Hayward says the blaze "remains a primary concern," noting "the fire remains hot and active, mostly in northern areas, with some intensity also observed near Beresford Lake. Crews are working to address hot spots, hold the progress made to date, and contain those active areas."
There are 141 personnel assisting with firefighting from other jurisdictions, Hayward says. That includes representatives from Mexico, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Christine Stevens, assistant deputy minister for the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization, adds more than 600 structural firefighters from more than 100 different fire departments across Manitoba have also stepped in.
There are seven local states of emergency in the province, she says, with six communities currently evacuated, including areas of Nopiming.
Stevens says around 6,600 Manitobans have been pushed out of their homes, with more than 130 structures lost to flames so far.
While there is rain forecasted for some parts of the province, including the southeast, Hayward says it's not anticipated in the areas that need it most.
Instead, there is a chance of lightning, which is cause for concern.
"When lightning strikes it can take three to five days, sometimes even longer, for smoke to pop up. That's what we're dealing with now, is a lot of starts from lightning," Hayward says.