mbwildfires2025

Just days after a wildfire destroyed its men’s campus in Denare Beach, Adult & Teen Challenge of Central Canada says more of its properties are now in jeopardy as fire conditions worsen.

The organization confirmed the complete loss of its Denare Beach campus on Tuesday, June 3. That included vital equipment such as a newly acquired truck, septic truck, and trailers—resources used to support recovery and training programs for men overcoming addiction.

The Town of Snow Lake has issued a mandatory evacuation order, requiring all residents to leave by noon on Saturday, June 7, as a massive wildfire threat looms.

The order follows a prior evacuation alert and was announced at noon Friday.

Approximately 1,100 people live in the northern Manitoba community, which is now under threat from three wildfires that have merged into a single, massive blaze. According to the City of Flin Flon, the fire spans an estimated 140 kilometres in length and five kilometres in width.

A wildfire burning close to Flin Flon is closing in on the city. 

Officials say no structures have been lost in Flin Flon or Creighton as of last night. However, winds in the area are now blowing from the south, resulting in heavy smoke and fire moving towards the south side of Flin Flon.

"Fire protection, including sprinklers, has been set up, and fire crews will be working in the Channing area to protect property in the area," said city officials in a post on Facebook.

Inner City Youth Alive continues to ask for prayers as a wildfire burns close to their wilderness camp. 

Last Friday, winds from the west allowed the Nopiming Provincial Park fire to move within one kilometre of Gem Lake Wilderness Camp, prompting prayers for a miracle.

On Thursday, Inner City Youth Alive gave another update, saying by God's grace, those winds shifted and were significantly calmer than expected, sparing the camp over the weekend.

In 2023, as Canada suffered through its worst-ever wildfire season, the federal government was looking at creating a national disaster response agency.

Two years later, the country is again facing another summer of wildfires. There is still no sign of such an agency, though governments are tapping the private sector to help with evacuations.

Ali Asgary, a York University professor of disaster and emergency management, said the work to establish a national agency is "unfortunately … not going as fast as our crises are going."

Another contingent of Southern Manitoba firefighters is heading north to assist with the ongoing wildfire battle. Members from Winkler Fire Department, Altona/Rhineland Emergency Services (ARES) and Morris Fire Department were the latest to answer the call. They will be joining the frontlines battling the Cross Lake fire, and left for the community Thursday morning. Cross Lake is located north of Norway House, and is nearly 900km north of the Altona/Winkler area.

Plans changed

Creighton's Kristina Tetreault was just heading back into town from the Pas Mb last Wednesday when she heard the mandatory wildfire evacuation message on the radio.  

Tetreault is a 35-year resident of the community that borders Flin Flon on the Saskatchewan side of the border. Her family, including her mother, son, and grandson, all live there. She works for the Bakers Narrows Provincial Park (BNPP). Instead of going directly to the BNPP head office, like she had planned, she went straight home and started packing.  

Some Manitoba residents who have taken refuge in Niagara Falls, Ont., after fleeing wildfires raging in their province say they're grateful for the hospitality but worry they won't have a home to return to once the flames die down.

Kelly Ouskun says he saw so much fire and smoke along the highway on the drive from his family's home in Split Lake to Thompson, about 145 kilometres away, that he felt "nauseated" and his eyes hurt.

"It's a very serious situation." That from Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew in an update on the province's wildfire situation Thursday, who says fire fighters from across Manitoba and beyond continue to blazes on several fronts. 

As of Thursday morning, Kinew said there were 16,800 evacuees registered in Manitoba. Many of which have been put up in hotels across Manitoba, occupying about 1,700 rooms. 

He added, it's been great to see people step up and provide donations, volunteer at shelters and even take evacuees into their homes. 

"It's a very serious situation." That from Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew in an update on the province's wildfire situation Thursday, who says fire fighters from across Manitoba and beyond continue to blazes on several fronts. 

As of Thursday morning, Kinew said there were 16,800 evacuees registered in Manitoba. Many of which have been put up in hotels across Manitoba, occupying about 1,700 rooms. 

He added, it's been great to see people step up and provide donations, volunteer at shelters and even take evacuees into their homes.