While wildfires in eastern Manitoba remain out of control, officials say progress on suppression efforts has allowed limited access to resume in parts of Whiteshell Provincial Park.
As of 9 a.m. Sunday, permanent residents, cottagers, commercial operators and daytime visitors are permitted to return to the Pointe du Bois area, including Provincial Road (PR) 313. However, Manitoba Parks warns the wildfire risk remains high and conditions could change quickly.
“All returning residents must be prepared to evacuate with little notice,” officials stated in a provincial news release. Manitobans are urged to prepare emergency go kits and review evacuation plans. Details are available on the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization website.
Most park closures remain in place
Despite some reopening, the state of local emergency remains in effect for Whiteshell, Nopiming, Wallace Lake, South Atikaki, and Manigotagan River provincial parks. These parks remain closed to the public, including cottage subdivisions, campgrounds, commercial areas, group use sites, beaches, trails, backcountry routes and all recreation areas.
Fire E061 in the Nopiming area and fire E063 in the Whiteshell are still active and not expected to be brought under control in the coming days. Manitoba Parks says current weather conditions are unfavourable, with warm, dry weather and no precipitation in the forecast.
In Whiteshell Provincial Park, all campgrounds remain closed. This includes seasonal and nightly campsites. All reservations through May 29 have been cancelled, and the Parks Reservation Service is contacting affected campers directly. The closure may be extended depending on fire behaviour and safety considerations.
Fire ban in effect for all provincial parks
A full fire ban remains in place at all Manitoba provincial parks. No fires of any kind are permitted, including in approved fire pits. Charcoal briquettes are also prohibited. Propane appliances may still be used for cooking. Fireworks and sky lanterns are banned across all provincial parks until further notice.
Manitoba Parks continues to work closely with the Manitoba Wildfire Service to assess and respond to fire threats throughout eastern Manitoba, including the Pinawa Dam and Whitemouth areas. Officials stress that public safety remains the top priority and are asking for patience as conditions are constantly evaluated.
Anyone planning to travel to provincial parks is encouraged to monitor current closures and conditions at www.manitobaparks.com.