The Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet is still recovering from one of the most destructive wildfires in its history, a fire that Reeve Loren Schinkel says has left lasting scars on the land and in the hearts of the community.
Schinkel spoke on Thursday about the months-long fight against the blaze, which has already consumed thousands of acres, taken two lives, and destroyed dozens of properties.
“We’ve never had a fire of this magnitude,” he said. “Even Wildfire Services said they’ve never fought a fire that impacted so many people.”
Loss, response, and rebuilding
The fire swept through the municipality at an alarming pace, burning 2,400 acres in a matter of hours and claiming the lives of two residents from the Nowell family. “It’s impacted the whole community. You can’t describe the weight of that,” said Schinkel.
On Thursday, the RM hosted a meeting with 28 residents who lost significant property. The goal was to share updates, answer questions, and ensure everyone is moving forward together. “There’s a lot of angst and uncertainty, and we want to keep communication open,” he said.
Infrastructure repairs are underway. The RM is currently rebuilding 1.2 kilometres of heavily damaged road, and the total financial impact is already over $1 million — money that wasn’t in the budget. “We had some emergency reserves, but this goes well beyond that,” said Schinkel. The municipality is working with the province under the Disaster Financial Assistance program.
Fire still active underground
Though the state of local emergency was lifted last week, the fire isn’t completely out. “There’s still an active burn in a peat moss area,” Schinkel said, noting that helicopters are still flying in to drop water on hotspots. The underground fire continues to resurface in places, and Manitoba Wildfire Service crews remain involved.
On Thursday afternoon, Manitoba government declared a provincial state of emergency once again, as wildfires continue to devastate parts of the province.
“With 31-degree heat and wind from the south, it doesn’t surprise me,” Schinkel said. “Mother Nature’s been stingy with moisture.”
During that press conference, Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister responsible for the Manitoba Wildfire Service (MWS), said there are 105 active wildfires across the province, with 261 to date. The 20-year average is 197.
More than one million hectares (ha) of land have burned as of July 8—an unprecedented figure.
Moving forward and learning lessons
The RM has already begun debriefing and collecting data to improve future response efforts. Emergency Measures staff are compiling reports, and Schinkel said they’ve also welcomed an external research team that previously studied the Fort McMurray and Jasper fires.
“We want to be part of any provincial conversations on how to do this better.”
Portable firefighting units are being installed in some cottage areas as a mitigation tool, paired with training on safe and early fire suppression. These are not meant to replace firefighters but to help contain small flare-ups before they spread.
Community support and recognition
Despite the challenges, Schinkel says he’s been moved by how people have come together.
“Our firefighters, staff, mutual aid districts, volunteers, and even people who opened up their homes — they’re the reason we’ve made it this far,” he said. A community recognition event is being planned for September 20, and the Schinkel is hoping Premier Wab Kinew and provincial ministers will attend.
When it comes to finding updates on these wildfires, Schinkel stressed the importance of relying on official information. “If you need answers, don’t go to Facebook,” he said. “Call us. Call Emergency Measures. Call council. We’re here to help.”
Looking ahead
As residents continue to grieve and rebuild, Schinkel says the RM is committed to doing everything possible to support them.
“We’ll come out stronger. But only because of the people,” he said. “It’s truly a privilege to serve this community — especially during a time like this.”
-With files from Daisy Woelke.