Thousands Urged to Evacuate in Manitoba as Wildfires Intensify Across Canada

A state of emergency has been declared in Manitoba, where officials are calling on thousands of residents in the northern and eastern regions to evacuate due to rapidly spreading wildfires affecting central and western parts of the country.

Premier Wab Kinew announced that approximately 17,000 people, including those from the city of Flin Flon, are being asked to leave their homes. Many evacuees are being directed to temporary shelters set up in Winnipeg and other nearby cities, including accommodations at community centers and sports fields. The military has been deployed to assist with evacuation and transportation efforts.

“This is the largest evacuation many people in Manitoba can remember,” Kinew stated, emphasizing the need for extensive coordination and support across all levels of government.

Meanwhile, wildfires in Alberta have also disrupted daily life and industry. A number of communities, including at least one small town, have been forced to evacuate, and some oil and gas operations have been temporarily suspended.

Cenovus Energy announced it was reducing nonessential staffing at its Foster Creek site in northern Alberta due to nearby fires. The facility is one of several located in the Bonnyville-Cold Lake region, an area currently experiencing wildfire activity covering about 2,900 hectares near Chipewyan Lake — roughly 130 kilometers west of Fort McMurray.

Although provincial officials indicated there was no immediate danger to Chipewyan Lake, residents were placed on one-hour evacuation notice in case wind conditions changed.

Another uncontrolled fire, spanning roughly 1,600 hectares, is burning close to Swan Hills in northern Alberta. Around 1,200 residents were told to evacuate earlier this week. In response, Aspenleaf Energy paused its operations in the area and shut down approximately 4,000 barrels per day of oil equivalent production as a safety measure.