The Manitoba Wildfire Service (MWS) says high winds and dry conditions are creating a very high fire danger across much of our province today.
A mandatory evacuation order is in effect for the community of Cormorant effective at 1 pm, Tuesday. This evacuation will affect approximately 300 residents.
For the safety of both evacuees and frontline and firefighting personnel, the province is reminding Manitobans not to enter areas under a mandatory evacuation until local authorities identify the situation is safe and evacuees are able to return.
The Manitoba Emergency Management Organization recommends evacuees leaving their communities due to wildfire bring their medications, identification, phone chargers, important documents, any needed baby supplies, and a change of clothing.
Manitoba remains under a provincial state of emergency, under the Emergency Measures Act, due to a wildfire season that is the worst over the last 30 years, with more than one million hectares (ha) of area burned in the province. The state of emergency is in effect until August 8th and, if necessary, may be extended.
MWS continues to respond to 127 active wildfires across our province. There has been a total of 352 fires to date in Manitoba, which is well above the average for July 29 of 276 total fires.
Fire EA061, burning in Nopiming Provincial Park, remains out of control at approximately 329,855 ha. A closure and mandatory evacuation order is in place for most of Atikaki Provincial Park, and the entire areas of Wallace Lake and South Atikaki provincial parks. While access to Nopiming Provincial Park has reopened, the fire continues to smoulder throughout the park.