Local fire departments continue to help battle the wildfires burning in Eastern Manitoba.
The latest round of fire fighters to pack up and head out are from the Boyne River Mutual Aid District and includes five members from Carman-Dufferin with two apparatus, two members each from Elm Creek and Ste. Claude, five fire fighters from Miami along with a tanker truck, and a crew from the Rosenort Fire Department along with a side-by-side vehicle.
Whiteshell Provincial Park was closed Thursday afternoon, and all access to the park is now restricted. This includes all public and private developed areas in Whiteshell Provincial Park including cottage subdivisions, commercial areas, campgrounds, group use, day use, and all recreational areas including trails, beaches, backcountry areas, canoe routes, and campsites. All park users, including full-time residents, commercial operators, and cottagers, along with campers at various provincial park campgrounds, had to leave by Thursday at 1 p.m.
All hands on deck
On Thursday, we heard from Greg Zimmerman, Chief of Altona/Rhineland Emergency Services and Coordinator for the Pembina Triangle Mutual Aid District, which responded to a request for assistance in the R.M. of Piney with a task force made up of fire fighters from departments across the region.
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That included a brush fire truck, ATVs and four fire fighters from Emerson-Franklin, five members from Altona/Rhineland responded with the department's pumper and tanker trucks, two fire fighters come out from St. Jean, the Winkler Fire Department contributed a pumper and a tanker along with seven fire fighters, and six members of the Morris Fire Department responded with one pumper truck.
Friday morning, the R.M. of Piney reported on social media that the Woodridge area received 15mm of rain in the last 24 hours, offering relief for the wildfire that crews are still fighting.
The fire is still deemed ‘Out of Control’ and the Municipality said the evacuation order will not be lifted until the status of the fire is moved to ‘Being Held’.