Our province is toughening burn restrictions today.
The Manitoba Wildfire Service says changes took effect at 8 am. This is due to wildfire danger levels and ongoing human-caused wildfires across the province.
According to the Manitoba Wildfire Service, the wildfire danger is moderate throughout our province, however, the southeast corner and northwest remain dry.
Fire and travel restrictions remain at Level 3 in the southeastern regions, including areas 1, 2, and 3. Area 1 is a square section that includes everything east of Provincial Road (PR) 302, north of the Canada/U.S. border, west of Ontario, and south of the Trans Canada Highway. Areas 2 and 3 are directly above. Under Level 3 restrictions, no fires are permitted as there is a full fire ban in effect, all backcountry travel or remote cottage access requires a travel permit, hiking trails are closed in provincial parks, and all existing provincial burning permits are cancelled.
Areas 5 and 8, which are to the north, around Lake Winnipeg, also have restrictions. Area 5 remains at Level 2, which means that motorized backcountry travel is prohibited. For Area 8, fire and travel restrictions are at Level 1. Our province says all remaining provincial burn permit areas are now under total burn restrictions, which means no burning or campfires, even in approved pits. Most of southern Manitoba, aside from the area east of PR 302 is not part of a provincial burn permit area.
Our province also says that campfires are now prohibited at all times in all provincial parks.
Meanwhile, as of Wednesday at 5 pm, the Manitoba Wildfire Service continues to respond to 12 active wildfires across the province. There have been 85 wildfires to date.
Crews continue to battle a fire near Carrick. This fire is approximately 9,000 hectares in size. The Rural Municipality of Piney has lifted the evacuation order for Woodridge, Badger, St. Labre, Carrick, and Florze. Evacuees have returned home.
Crews are also still battling a fire one kilometre from Bird River. This fire is approximately 101,000 hectares in size. Mandatory evacuations continue for Pointe du Bois, Nopiming Provincial Park, and the RM of Alexander. The Tanco Mine also remains evacuated. An evacuation order remains in place for Wallace Lake Cottage Association.
The Lac du Bonnet fire is burning six kilometres from Lac du Bonnet and is approximately 4,000 hectares in size. The RM of Lac du Bonnet and the RM of Alexander have lifted some evacuation orders for evacuees along PR 313 up to the intersection of PR 315. Local bylaw enforcement officers, in coordination with the RCMP, continue to maintain 24/7 roadblocks at the intersection of PR 313 and PR 315.
And finally, progress is being made on the fire near Ingolf, Ontario. This fire is approximately 1,650 hectares in size on the Manitoba side of the border. Select areas in Whiteshell Provincial Park that are a safe distance from the wildfire have reopened. This fire originated in Ontario.