Whiteshell Provincial Park to close due to extreme fire conditions: Province

The Manitoba Government says they are closing Whiteshell Provincial Park out of caution, due to extreme fire conditions in eastern Manitoba.

Access to the provincial park will be restricted as of 9 a.m. on May 15, which will include all public and private developed areas, including cottage subdivisions, commercial areas, campgrounds, group use, day use and all recreational areas including trails, beaches, backcountry areas, canoe routes and campsites.

As of 1 p.m. on May 15, all park users, including full-time residents, commercial operators, and cottagers, along with campers at various provincial park campgrounds, must leave the park.

The province is issuing the closure to try and keep Manitobans in the area safe.

Full-time residents are being asked to register in person with Manitoba Parks staff beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday.

Residents can register at one of the following locations; however, if they are unable to unable to register in person they are asked to call 204-340-6769.

• Whiteshell Community Club, Provincial Road (PR) 301 in Falcon Lake
• Rennie Community Club, Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 44 in Rennie
• Eastman Snopals Garage (junction of PR 307 and Waterline Road)

The province also notes that the closure will be in place until conditions improve.

As for campers, they will not have to register unless they are a full-time resident. Campgrounds will remain closed until at least May 21, and for those who were planning on going camping but can no longer do so due to the closure, they will be contacted by the Parks Reservation Service.

Additional closures

Closures currently remain in place for the following areas, according to the province.

• Nopiming Provincial Park
• Pinawa Dam Provincial Park
• Poplar Bay Provincial Park
• Wallace Lake Provincial Park
• South Atikaki Provincial Park
• Manigotagan River Provincial Park

Closures include all public and private developed areas, including cottage subdivisions, commercial areas, campgrounds, group use, day use and all recreational areas including trails, beaches, backcountry areas, canoe routes and campsites.

These closures will remain in place until conditions improve.

Evacuation orders

Some parts of Nopiming Provincial Park are under an evacuation order.

• Bird, Booster, Davidson and Flanders lakes in south Nopiming – cottagers, commercial resort and lodge operators, backcountry users and campers;
• Long and Beresford lakes in north Nopiming – cottagers, commercial resort and lodge operators, backcountry users and campers; and
• Wallace Lake, South Atikaki and Manigotagan River – cottagers, residents, commercial resort and lodge operators, backcountry users and campers.