Eight forest fires burning within a 25-kilometre radius of Lynn Lake and Marcel Colomb First Nation about six hours northwest of Thompson knocked out power to the First Nation and destroyed the Burge Lake Bible Camp since starting July 24.
The four fires nearest to Lynn Lake and the First Nation are classified as out-of-control and the largest one covers over 1,000 hectares, though its spread is limited by natural and built boundaries, including roads and tailings ponds near Lynn Lake. A fire that crossed Provincial Road 391 east of Lynn Lake damaged seven hydro poles and left Marcel Colomb First Nation without power, though its 150 residents were evacuated by the Red Cross to Thompson beginning July 24.
Rose Michaluk, who lives on Burge Lake, said she could hear propane tanks exploding July 24 as the fire on the lake's opposite shore reached the camp site. The fire had started shortly after a thunder and lightning storm passed over the area.
“This was the first year they had a lot of kids there,” since refurbishing the camp, which has been at the site for about 50 years, she said. New cabins and a new kitchen finished recently were all destroyed. “It’s devastating for the community.”
Michaluk said July 26 that most of the smoke from the area had cleared following rain overnight.
“We had rain last night and yesterday so it’s not bad,” she said. “It’s nice that it’s staying cool.”
Manitoba Sustainable Development said July 26 that 17 millimetres of rain had been recorded at the Lynn Lake weather station over the previous 48 hours and that Friday’s weather conditions were similar.
Lynn Lake Fire Department Chief James Lindsay* said on Twitter July 26 that tension in the town had eased over the past couple of days and that some of the hydro poles were still smouldering in the evening July 25 as Manitoba Hydro crews worked to restore power.
Thirty-three forest fires were burning in in the province as of July 26, 25 of them in the northeast district, which includes Lynn Lake. The northeast district has seen 72 of the 225 fires in the province this spring and summer to date, and those fires have burned nearly 66,000 hectares, about two-thirds of the total area burnt in Manitoba so far this year.
* This story originally idnetified James Lindsay as chief of the Snow Lake Volunteer Fire Department, but he is sure that he hasn't moved. The Thompson Citizen apologizes for the error.
