Expired News - Patchy rain reduces Manitoba fire activity, thousands flee - The Weather Network
Your weather when it really mattersTM

Country

Please choose your default site

Americas

Asia - Pacific

Europe

News
EVACUATIONS

Patchy rain reduces Manitoba fire activity, thousands flee


Digital writers
theweathernetwork.com

Sunday, May 27, 2018, 2:55 PM - Around 2,000 people across four communities in Manitoba have been forced to leave their homes over the past few days due to out-of-control wildfires. However, officials say firefighters are making great progress and patchy rain has helped relief efforts.

Most residents of the communities of Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi were evacuated by end of day Friday, as the wildfire that prompted it first detected Monday, grew to 25,000 hectares. That fire remains out of control, and the province says the fire was human caused. CBC reports the evacuees were flown to Winnipeg, with the aid of military aircraft, amounting to more than 1,100 people.

May 21, 2018 image of the wildfires from NASA’s Aqua satellite. Source.

"Sprinkler set-ups for the protection of homes around Pauingassi are being completed," says a Manitoba fire update report issued Sunday afternoon. "Significant suppression work remains given the size of the fire."

Elsewhere, Sapotaweyak Cree Nation began evacuating over the weekend as fires threatened the community. The province says late-week rains have helped that fight, and fires are being held, but some 800 people are still not able to return home.

About 40 Ontario firefighters joined crews in Manitoba to assist control efforts in the area. 

In the Interlake region, those same rains aided firefighters working on several blazes near the community of Ashern, which are now under control.

Hot and dry weather has been driving an above-average wildfire season so far. Some 45 active fires were burning Sunday, and more than 180 so far this season (well above the typical 103 at this time in the season), burning more than 60,000 hectares.

After a very active Saturday night across Alberta and Saskatchewan, a trough is weakening as it drifts east, which may result in some light showers for Manitoba. 

Temperatures will remain about five to 10oC above seasonal across the Prairies into Monday.

A map of the areas affected and a detailed description of the provincial fire and travel restrictions can be found here.

WATCH BELOW: Fort McMurray: A look back one year after the devastating wildfires


SOURCES: Province of Manitoba | CBC News | Winnipeg Free Press

Default saved
Close

Search Location

Close

Sign In

Please sign in to use this feature.