Northern Manitoba town of Leaf Rapids issues evacuation order due to wildfires

Wildfires that had receded in northern Manitoba have begun to roar back, forcing a wave of new evacuations and a major hub for people living in the north to declare a state of emergency.

The province reported 81 active fires on Monday with 16 of those threatening communities, leaving some residents to leave their homes immediately, flee a second time or prepare to leave on a moment’s notice.

Fire is threatening the northern city of Thompson and its 13,000 residents, resulting in officials declaring a local state of emergency effective until Aug. 6.

The city said in a Facebook post that it’s a precautionary move to ensure leadership is prepared for changing conditions.

“It gives the city the ability to take action, if necessary, to protect residents and property,” the post read.

Thompson was previously hosting wildfire evacuees from other communities in hotels and congregate shelters, but officials said Monday that is no longer the case.

The fire near Thompson is about 15 kilometres north of the city and has grown to 60 square kilometres, though officials said the city is not in danger for now.

“I wish I had a crystal ball and could scope those things out,” said Kristin Hayward with the Manitoba Wildfire Service.

“But at this time based on the current conditions, the work that we’re doing and the forecasting conditions, we don’t expect Thompson to be in immediate danger over the next couple of days at least.”

Thompson has advised residents to be prepared to go on short notice.

Elsewhere in Manitoba, the roughly 300 residents of Leaf Rapids have been told to be out by Tuesday morning ahead of a fire menacing the town 900 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

“We appreciate going through an evacuation is never easy, and thank you for your cooperation and understanding,” the town said in a Facebook post on Monday.

Consider the elderly and those with disabilities. That’s the message from some Leaf Rapids residents as they scramble to get their loved ones out of the community with wildfires approaching. The only provided transportation option – a bus.

“My mind’s just going crazy, like what am I going to do, am I going to make a bed for my mom in the cab of my truck so I can lay her down and try to make her comfortable while I try to take her to Winnipeg?” said Lianna Anderson, a Leaf Rapids resident.

Anderson’s 85-year-old mother has advanced dementia and struggles in a crowd. Anderson has cared for her for the past several years to keep her in her house, where she’s comfortable.

But now, she doesn’t know where to go. Anderson says she tried to register her mom with the Red Cross but was denied because she doesn’t have official power of attorney.

“In our Indigenous culture, we don’t run around and say, ‘Oh, I respect my elder, I want to look after her, can you give me the legal documents to be able to do that?’ That’s not our way,” Anderson explained.

Speaking to CityNews over the phone as they tried to plan their way out, another family doesn’t know where to turn.

Raymond Meunier spent his day trying to secure enough money for fuel. He has to transport his children with special needs.

“So I can’t put him on a bus, and I can’t get on a bus because of my spine. So I have a vehicle, but I have no funds,” said Meunier.

Work is underway to help get people out if they don’t have their own transportation.

“There’s boots on the ground in the community that are working to coordinate the evacuation, so transportation has been arranged. Folks who require additional supports have been identified and will be supported through the evacuation,” said Christine Stevens, with Manitoba’s emergency management organization.

The province is working to secure hotel rooms for all residents as soon as possible, but some may need to use a congregate shelter for a short period of time until rooms become available, the post said.

But Meunier and Anderson say they haven’t heard from or seen provincial officials, despite registering with the town and contacting their MLA.

With several fires burning in nearby communities, Meunier says the evacuation order should’ve come sooner.

“It was so bad, you couldn’t see across your street. Yet nobody was evacuated, nothing was done,” Meunier.

Leaf Rapids has been managed by a third-party consulting company since the council’s resignation in 2019. Meunier says not having local leadership is hurting the community and his family, especially his son with a lung condition.

“I had to keep him in the basement, and I put sheets across the staircase in order for him to be safe and kept his puffer here. I just basically kept him prisoner and he pretty much felt that way,” said Meunier.

The consulting company, Way To Go, did not respond to requests for comment at this time. The Canadian Red Cross said they’re looking into the registration concern.

CityNews also reached out to the province, which said, “The province is actively working with partners on the ground to ensure the safe evacuation of all community members in Leaf Rapids. Community volunteers and the RCMP are going door-to-door to register all residents and identify any transportation and accommodation needs.

Adding, “We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to provide evacuees with the supports they need, work with community leadership, and respond to the situation as it evolves to ensure the safety of all those affected. Our government remains committed to supporting local leadership in wildfire-affected areas to deliver a coordinated response as they assess community-level risks and issue any evacuation orders.”

The 600 people around Lynn Lake, north of Leaf Rapids, were ordered out last week, the second time this summer they have had to pick up and go ahead of a fire.

Residents remain out at the Tataskweyak Cree Nation and the community reported that fires have destroyed seven homes.

The province said there are seven states of local emergency and six communities remain evacuated, not including Leaf Rapids.

The increase in fire activity is related to lightning, which has sparked new fires in recent days.

“When lightning strikes, it can take three to five days, sometimes even longer, for that smoke to pop up,” said Hayward. “That’s what we’re dealing with now.”