As they are fleeing their homes in Manitoba, Canada, fast-moving wildfires are burning dry forests, urging authorities to declare a state of emergency and demand military assistance.
The fire forced the full evacuation of Flynn Fron, a city near the Saskatchewan border, after winds shifted and pushed the flames closer to the community.
Manitoba Prime Minister Wab Kinueu said at a press conference that 17,000 people need to leave the house. “The Manitoba government has declared a statewide emergency due to the wildfire situation,” he said.
Mayor of Flynn Fron George Fontaine said that nearly 5,000 residents of Flynn Fron were asked to move.
“Everyone can say they have to go out by midnight, and that includes me,” Fontaine said Wednesday. “I’m busy packing some things and everyone is as organized as possible.”
He said many people have been featured on soccer fields and community centers in Winnipeg and other cities, with federal forces arriving to help transport evacuees.
“This is the biggest evacuation in the living memory of many Manitobans and will require important resources and cooperation from governments at all levels,” Kinu said, adding that military assistance has been requested to support evacuation and emergency response.
Military planes will be deployed “immediately” to help people get out of remote communities that have been extinguished at risk of extinction, he said.
“Pray for Flynn Fron, pray for Pimischkamak, pray for Matthias Columbu, pray for Crosslake, pray for everyone in Manitoba who are leaving the house right now,” the Prime Minister said.
Evacuation spread to nearby Saskatchewan, and the town of Clayton ordered residents to leave across the border.
By Thursday, Manitoba had reported more than 100 wildfires this year, already above the state’s seasonal average. Authorities said 22 fires are currently active and the hot and dry conditions are driving rapid spread.
Overall, there are currently 134 active fires across Canada. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario. Half of them are considered out of control.
Clayton Mayor Bruce Fiddler said more than 1,200 residents were told to leave town. He said wildfire officials told him by Thursday that the flames would be approaching and could cut road access.
“We declare a state of emergency, and we will provide forced evacuations to ensure as many people as possible are safe and ensure that roads can come out of the area before they become impenetrable,” Fiddler said.
State officials say 200,000 hectares of land have been burned so far this year, tripling the five-year average.
“It was very smoky. I could see the fire moving fast, 4-5km away. The flames were shooting over 120 feet high,” Cheryl Matheson, a lodge owner in a small community in Sheridon, who fled with her family, told AFP.
Residents in affected areas report poor air quality and limited visibility. Emergency shelters are set up in nearby cities, with buses transporting residents from remote locations.
Fire management personnel are wary of the scale and speed of the fire. Wildfires are a natural part of the Canadian boreal forest ecosystem, but the increase in intensity and frequency in recent years has been linked to climate change.
Warm temperatures, prolonged droughts and increased lightning activity all contribute to longer, more destructive fire seasons around the country.
Last year, Canada had a record-breaking wildfire season. More than 18 million hectares burned, and smoke wafted all the way to Europe and the United States. Scientists warn that these extremes will continue to escalate without urgent climate action.
Manitoba officials said some fires are under control, while others remain too dangerous to fight directly. They said that air tankers and ground crews had been deployed, but changing the wind made containment efforts difficult.
There is no immediate forecast of significant rain in this area. This means that the condition may remain unstable for the next few days.
