As wildfires forced evacuations across parts of Manitoba this spring, officials in the Rural Municipality of Piney say a long-standing problem is putting their residents at even greater risk: the lack of reliable cell phone service. The townsite of Badger was evacuated in May, along with Woodrige, Carrick, St. Labre, and Florze.
Councillor Mark Bernard says while the municipality works year-round to prepare for wildfires, the inability to communicate quickly with all residents remains one of their biggest challenges.
Frequent planning, limited communication tools
Bernard says the RM of Piney, surrounded by 75 percent Crown land, regularly holds mock emergency scenarios such as fires and training exercises with its three local fire departments in Sprague, Piney and Woodridge.
This year, Piney’s firefighters also participated in joint wildfire training with crews from Buffalo Point, including specialized instruction on sprinkler deployment and wildfire suppression. Bernard says these preparations are essential.
“We are very aware that we live in a fire risk area and we’re always planning for that. We train and allow our firefighters to get the proper training, especially to fight wildfires.”
He says the municipality also works to inform residents of fire bans through social media, roadside signage, and newsletters. But reaching everyone remains difficult, especially seasonal residents who may only visit on weekends.
Evacuations highlight safety gap
This spring, as wildfires prompted evacuations in parts of Piney, gaps in communication became more apparent. While some residents rely on landlines, many others have no reliable way of receiving alerts while away from their homes.
“We’re stuck between a rock and a hard place,” Bernard said. “We want to put out alerts, but our cell service is so poor. A lot of people don’t have cell phones because there’s no coverage. Why pay for something you can’t use?”
He says residents in Sprague, South Junction, Vassar, Woodridge, Badger, and Carrick often have little to no cell service. In many cases, even emergency responders struggle to communicate while coordinating wildfire response efforts.
A safety issue for residents and responders
Beyond wildfires, Bernard says the lack of cell coverage puts residents at risk during everyday emergencies. “If someone goes outside and falls, they have no access to communication. Most people in the city have their cell phone on them at all times. Here, many residents have no service on their own property.”
He adds that the problem affects more than just locals. “When Manitoba Highways staff came for a meeting at our office, their GPS stopped working. They got lost because they had no cell service. Even they saw the problem firsthand.”
Calls for action from government and industry
Bernard says the RM has repeatedly asked major carriers like Bell, Rogers, and Telus to expand service in the region but has been told there are not enough customers to justify the investment. “I don’t buy that,” Bernard said. “It’s a safety issue, not just a business decision.”
He believes it is time for higher levels of government to intervene. “We have to start thinking outside the box. The province needs to engage. The federal government may need to revisit telecommunications regulations. If Canadian companies don’t want to expand service, maybe we need to allow foreign competition to bring in other providers who will.”
Bernard says the situation has become unacceptable in this day and age. “It’s not fair to our residents. It’s a risk to public safety. When you have a fire, there are only so many radios to go around. Cell phones could help firefighters communicate, but we can’t use them.”
He is hopeful that the Eastman Regional Municipal Committee will be successful in advocating for an effective solution to this problem. The RM of Piney is one of the municipalities represented on this advocacy committee, putting all their voices together to push for positive change in the region.
Community remains proactive despite challenges
Despite these frustrations, Bernard says the community continues to show strong support for its volunteer firefighters. Following recent fires, residents in Woodridge attended public meetings and expressed willingness to support increased funding for firefighting training and equipment.
“The residents are very open to supporting our firefighters,” Bernard said. “We have a great relationship with our fire departments and we’re always working together.”
For now, Bernard says Piney will continue to push for better communication infrastructure, not just for convenience, but because lives may depend on it.
“Something has to be done. The longer this goes unresolved, the more dangerous it becomes.”