Thousands flee crippling wildfires in northern Manitoba

Driving along a dark, winding highway, with cars lined up bumper to bumper, it took Rob Burroughs more than 12 hours to get to Winnipeg from his home in Flin Flon.

On a normal day, it usually takes seven.

“We could see (the fire) very well,” he said Thursday outside an evacuation centre. “The night before, the wind was in our favour … but then we were told that the wind was going to change on Wednesday, and it did.

“We could see (the fire) perfectly. Red (skies) and lots of black smoke.”

Burroughs is one of thousands staying at evacuation centres in the city after fleeing crippling wildfires burning across northern Manitoba. The city opened its doors Thursday to evacuees as the provincial government grapples with finding beds for them all.

Most area hotels are filled with people fleeing other fires, as well as conventiongoers.

There was little to no visible foot traffic at the main evacuation centre at the Billy Mosienko Arena. Security kept media away. Others will be housed at larger facilities like recreation centres and soccer fields.

“I don’t know how many cots are set up there, maybe 50 or more.  The whole rink is full of these green cots they give you a pillow and a blanket,” said Burroughs.

The fire near the city of Flin Flon began Monday across the boundary in nearby Creighton, Sask., and exploded in size. Residents were told Wednesday to flee south with their essentials and be out of town by midnight.

“Some of the residents, like my kids, live right off the perimeter, which is only one-and-a-half kilometres from the fire,” Burroughs said. “(First responders) were going door to door, telling them to get out.”

Burroughs said he waited for his three adult children and his common-law partner to get off work before fleeing in his pickup truck and a borrowed SUV. They plan to check in at a hotel Friday.

“We got out of Flin Flon, say 5:30, but I had to go get my daughter because they live close to the perimeter where the fire was, like really close and endangering houses, so they were actually going door to door for a good 10 to 15 blocks.”

While Burrough is remaining hopeful, he will see his house again, he knows it’s not a guarantee.

“The fire was so close to a dynamite place, close to a fuel lot which has humungous fuel tanks to fuel the whole community, and then where I live, close to me is Stico Energy, so if the fire actually gets into those structures, it’s not going to be good,” he explained.

The fires have forced 17,000 people from their homes in remote communities and First Nations, including 6,000 in and around Flin Flon.

Brandan Dumas was at the reception centre set up at Billy Mosienko Arena, before being transported by bus with his brother and three friends to Century Arena.  He says the group is finding comfort in being close to others from the community.

“We just grab our belongings and everything that matters to us in life, so like pictures, clothes, birth certificate,s and everything,” said Dumas.

“We’re going to be staying at the arena and everybody from Flin Flon is gonna be together that came from Flin Flon, so that’s pretty much where I’m going, so a lot of familiar faces, a lot of family, a lot of safe feelings and everything.”

He says despite the devastation, members of the community are holding strong and leaning on each other.

“Stick together, don’t leave anyone behind, and respect one another because it’s a time of crisis.  Like our homes could all be burnt down and everything is gone….like that.”

At a Wednesday press conference, Premier Wab Kinew said it’s his province’s largest such exodus in living memory.

He has issued a province-wide state of emergency and asked Prime Minister Mark Carney to deploy the military to help with evacuation flights. He has also asked for additional aid from other provinces.

B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said Thursday more than 50 firefighters and equipment have been sent to Manitoba.

“My thoughts are with the people of Flin Flon right now,” Parmar said, adding that the B.C. Wildfire Service has also received a request from Saskatchewan.