Wildfires ravaging Manitoba have prompted officials to declare a second state of emergency this year, given the alarming pace at which land is being scorched. As of last Friday, over 100 active blazes have caused an estimated 2.5 million acres of land to burn, potentially making this summer the worst wildfire season since 1994.
According to provincial authorities, a dozen out of the active wildfires were categorized as out of control, heightening the urgency for widespread evacuations. The round of extreme heat this summer has exacerbated the severity of wildfires, which are primarily ignited by lightning strikes. The provincial capital, Winnipeg, is currently under a severe thunderstorm warning.
Nine communities, including the town of Snow Lake and Garden Hill First Nation, have faced mandatory evacuation orders. Premier Wab Kinew revealed that more than 4,000 residents from the Garden Hill reservation were evacuated and are being housed at local venues like Winnipeg’s Billy Mosienko Arena and the RBC Convention Center. The federal government has also dispatched an air force plane to assist in relocating evacuees.
To combat the wildfires, American firefighters have joined efforts on the ground in Manitoba. However, Kinew expressed frustration towards US Congress members who he feels are politicizing the situation. Recently, six representatives from Minnesota and Wisconsin wrote to the Canadian government requesting measures to mitigate the flow of smoke and ash into their states, impacting summer activities.
In May, Kinew declared the province's first state of emergency due to life-threatening wildfires that resulted in two fatalities and the evacuation of around 30,000 residents in Manitoba and neighboring Saskatchewan. This ongoing crisis is drawing significant attention as Manitobans brace for further challenges ahead.
