Manitoba Declares Emergency as Wildfires Force Mass Evacuations

WINNIPEG: Manitoba has declared a state of emergency, urging thousands of residents in northern and eastern parts of the province to evacuate as wildfires continue to spread across Central and Western Canada.

Premier Wab Kinew announced that 17,000 people must evacuate immediately, including residents of Flin Flon. Many evacuees will be accommodated in soccer fields and community centres in Winnipeg and other cities, with federal armed forces arriving to assist with transportation.

“This is the largest evacuation in many Manitobans’ living memory, requiring significant resources and cooperation from all levels of government,” Kinew stated.

Meanwhile, wildfires in Alberta have led to the temporary shutdown of some oil and gas production, forcing evacuations in at least one town.

Oil producer Cenovus Energy has scaled back nonessential workers at its Foster Creek facility due to the wildfire threat in northern Alberta. The facility is part of a network of oil sands operations in the Bonnyville-Cold Lake region.

The region has been affected by wildfires spanning 2,900 hectares (11.2 square miles) near Chipewyan Lake, a small community 130 km (81 miles) west of Fort McMurray.

Cenovus stated that it is closely monitoring the evolving wildfire situation, with staffing adjustments made as a precaution.

Alberta officials reported that Chipewyan Lake is not currently under direct threat, but residents have been placed on a one-hour evacuation notice due to shifting winds.

Another wildfire, nearly 1,600 hectares in size, is burning out of control approximately 7 km north of Swan Hills in northern Alberta.

The 1,200 residents of Swan Hills were ordered to evacuate on Monday evening. Oil and gas producer Aspenleaf Energy temporarily halted operations in the area, shutting in approximately 4,000 barrels per day of oil equivalent production as a precaution.