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Ashern was under two-hour evacuation notice due to fire 6.5 km away May 22

Evacuation flights from Little Grand Rapids halted due to smoky conditions

Manitoba had had 163 wildfires so far in 2018, as of May 22, including 24 in the northeast region and nine in the northwest.

Three fires were burning in the northeast region May 22, but all were under control, being fought by 31 firefighters and three helicopters. Twenty-two of the 24 northeast fires have been acted upon by firefighters, while no action was taken on two. All 24 so far this year have been caused by humans and have burnt a total of 243 hectares. All the fires so far this year in the northwest region were caused by people as well. 

The central and eastern regions of the province have seen the most fires this year, with 63 in the central region and 57 in the eastern region as of May 22, with a total of nearly 29,000 hectares burned between the two regions.  Nine fires in the western region have burned about 2,000 hectares while the northwest fires have only burned 79 hectares so far. Manitoba forest firefighters are being assisted by about 80 firefighters from Ontario and Quebec.

Residents of Sapotaweyak Cree Nation and Jackhead First Nation were evacuated due to smoke from nearby fires, though Jackhead lifted the evacuation order May 22 and residents were told they could return home. Efforts to control fires near Ashern covering nearly 11,000 hectares continue, with the community’s residents having been placed on a two-hour evacuation notice May 22, as one of the fires, covering 8,700 hectares, was within 6.5 kilometres of Ashern.

The average number of fires in Manitoba for this time of year is about 100, according to a forest fire bulletin from the provincial government.

About 60 residents were evacuated from the fly-in community of Little Grand Rapids May 22 before smoke made it unsafe for flights to continue, the Manitoba government said May 23. Reports from the community said that several homes had been lost to the fire, which was about 20,000 hectares and which is also within about five kilometre of the neighbouring Pauingassi First Nation, which will also be evacuated.

“Families and newborns are waiting at airports, breathing in toxins from the fire, waiting to be airlifted out of the community,” said Keewatinook Liberal MLA Judy Klassen, in whose constituency Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi First Nation lie. “The Pallister government must get the two communities in the fire line evacuated. Getting the planes into Little Grand Rapids has been quite a challenge and it continues to be a challenge. I am still baffled as to why the planes didn’t land as soon as we had a window. Premier Pallister, the chiefs want their people out of the fire zone right now!”

“Right now, there are 630 people who are in the gym which is being hosed down by fire crews,” said Churchill-Keewatinook Aski NDP MP in a May 23 statement. “Homes in the community have been lost to the fire. The community is desperately seeking to have community members evacuated and is taking its own initiative to bring in float planes. I have spoken to the chief and he has called for immediate action to assist the community. I have also spoken to the office of Ralph Goodale, the federal minister responsible for emergency response, to ask for immediate assistance. The situation is urgent. It’s also important to note that Little Grand Rapids does not have all-weather road access. That makes evacuation that much more difficult. It also means that we need to listen to the community. I am calling on the federal and provincial governments to act immediately to assist the community and evacuate its residents to safety.”

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