Our province has announced that more of the Whiteshell will reopen, beginning tomorrow.
More and more of Whiteshell Provincial Park is reopening, though wildfires continue to burn out of control. According to Manitoba Wildfire Service (MWS), Crowduck Lake and Big Whiteshell Lake will reopen for permanent residents, cottagers, and commercial operators beginning Wednesday at 8 am.
Then, on Wednesday at 4 pm, Florence Lake, Nora Lake, and Ophir Siding will reopen for permanent residents, cottagers, and commercial operators. And campgrounds at Big Whiteshell Lake will have a phased-in reopening, starting with seasonal campers on Friday.
Fire EA063 remains out of control and continues to burn in the Mantario wilderness zone of Whiteshell Provincial Park. However, suppression efforts are holding the line which has allowed some areas of the park to reopen.
The Mantario Wilderness Zone remains closed, including the Mantario Hiking Trail and Caddy Lake tunnels. Anyone returning to the reopened areas is advised to be prepared to evacuate again with little notice. All residents, cottagers, and seasonal campers should prepare an emergency go kit and remain alert for evacuation notices.
According to MWS, the province continues at a low-to-moderate fire danger level today with the northeast area under a high-to-extreme fire danger. There is a chance of rain in the north with increased risk of new fire starts from lightning.
MWS continues to respond to 25 active wildfires across the province. There have been 116 wildfires to date, above the average for this date of 103 total fires.
Other fires of note, include:
East region:
- Fire EA061 remains out of control at approximately 218,700 hectares (ha). Provincial Road (PR) 315 is closed at the Tanco Mine north of the Bird River area, with no travel beyond that point to Nopiming Provincial Park and onward up to PR 314 and Bissett. A mandatory evacuation order continues for Bissett and Nopiming Provincial Park. A two-hour evacuation notice remains in place for the Rural Municipality of Alexander from Tall Timber Road to Hill Drive.
- Fire EA063, located on the Ontario border near Ingolf, is out of control at approximately 5,400 ha on the Manitoba side of the border and approximately 36,000 ha in Ontario. This fire originated in Ontario and is numbered there as KEN#020. An evacuation order continues for parts of Whiteshell Provincial Park.
West region:
- Fire WE017, located near Sherridon and Flin Flon, is approximately 307,780 ha and is out of control. Mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for Snow Lake, Sherridon, Herb Lake Landing, Grass River Provincial Park and Wekusko Falls Provincial Park, Big Island, Schist Lake, Little Athapapuskow Cottage Area, Lake Athapapuskow, Payuk Lake, Twin Lake, Whitefish, White Lake (northwest region), Bakers Narrows Provincial Park and the city of Flin Flon.
- Fire WE023, located eight km from Wanless and south of Cranberry Portage, is approximately 4,920 ha and remains out of control. A mandatory evacuation order continues for Cranberry Portage.
- Fire WE025, located near Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan), is approximately 55,140 ha and remains out of control. The fire around Mathias Colomb Cree Nation is contained but a mandatory evacuation order continues for Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan).
- Fire WE027, located eight km from the town of Grand Rapids and Misipawistik Cree Nation, is approximately 12,000 ha and is out of control.
- Fire WE028, located 10 km from Bakers Narrows Provincial Park, is approximately 4,784 ha and is out of control.
North region:
- Fire NO002, located near the town of Lynn Lake, is approximately 71,067 ha and is out of control. A mandatory evacuation order continues for the town of Lynn Lake and Marcel Colomb First Nation (Black Sturgeon).
- Fire NO005, located five km from Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake), the Incorporated Community of Cross Lake, Jenpeg Generating Station and Whiskey Jack Landing, is approximately 58,800 ha and is out of control. A mandatory evacuation order continues for Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) and the Incorporated Community of Cross Lake.
- Fire NO010, located near Tataskweyak Cree Nation (Split Lake), is approximately 21,560 ha and is out of control. A mandatory evacuation order continues for Tataskweyak Cree Nation (Split Lake).
Manitoba continues under a provincewide state of emergency. According to our province, human activity continues to significantly contribute to Manitoba's current wildfire situation. The provincial state of emergency under the Emergency Measures Act is in effect until June 26.
Manitoba continues at Level 3 for fire and travel restrictions across much of the province including all provincial parks and all burn permit areas (areas 1 to 22). A full burn ban is in place. Campfires are prohibited even in approved pits.
Backcountry travel is prohibited without a permit.
Trails and backcountry water routes in all provincial parks are closed. Several provincial parks remain closed to all park users.
Since May 1, the Manitoba Conservation Officer Service has issued 74 charges, and 28 warnings related to wildfires.