New restrictions in Manitoba amid high fire danger; another First Nation declares state of emergency

More Manitoba communities have implemented fire bans due to warm, dry weather.

Amid high fire dangers, the province is implementing fire and travel bans, as yet another Manitoba First Nation has declared a state of emergency.

In its latest fire bulletin Thursday, the Manitoba Wildfire Service announced new measures to combat wildfires this season. As of 8 a.m. Friday, all motorized backcountry travel is banned in certain parts of the province.

The province said this ban includes the following provincial parks:

• Whiteshell
• Spruce Woods
• Beaudry
• St. Ambroise Beach
• Stephenfield
• Birds Hill
• Lake St. Andrews
• Lake St. George

A map of all the areas included in the ban can be found online.

“Currently, we have quite a few fires going on right now,” said Glenn Miller, the acting director of the Manitoba Wildfire Service, noting most are in grassland areas. “The hot, dry, humid and high-wind conditions are causing a lot of fires to spread at a rapid pace.”

He said because of this, the danger of fires continues to be high in the southeast and Interlake regions.

Miller said the goal of a travel ban is two-fold.

“It’s the chance of them starting a fire,” he said. “And also, in the event that there is a fire, since the conditions can be so extreme at that point, that we don’t want people to be trapped in the back country.”

Along with the travel ban, the province said fires are prohibited between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Outside of these hours, fires must be in a campfire pit.

Provincial burn permits in the eastern and Interlake regions have also been cancelled.

Province expects ‘above average’ fire activity this summer

This comes as the province has already faced several wildfires so far this season.

Miller said so far this year, the province has had 62 wildfires, about 13 of which are being held or are out of control.

“We do know without a doubt that most of these fires are human-caused,” he said, noting this could include machinery or vehicles driving in dry areas and sparking a blaze.

He said the wildfire service is expecting ‘above average’ fire activity this summer. He said the province’s fleet of water bombers is ready to go along with 300 frontline personnel.

Still, he said conditions can change quickly.

“It doesn’t take much for a little bit of moisture and rain to curb those concerns,” he said.

State of emergency now includes Lake Manitoba First Nation

In a notice Wednesday, the Interlake Reserves Tribal Council said Lake Manitoba First Nation had been placed under the recent state of emergency.

“This decision has been made in response to the fire threat in Lake Manitoba First Nation,” a notice reads, adding the council is stepping in to help.

It said while the fire is being managed, the risks are still extremely high.

“We urge all community members to remain vigilant and adhere to emergency protocols established by the Chief and Council of Lake Manitoba First Nation and their Emergency Team.”

The council initially declared the state of emergency on Monday as wildfires were threatening the Peguis, Kinonjeoshtegon, and Peguis First Nations, noting some homes had been destroyed in the fires.

The council said the fires in those communities had been brought under control as of Wednesday night.

This comes as the province has already faced several wildfires so far this season.

Glenn Miller, the acting director of the Manitoba Wildfire Service, is set to speak with reporters Thursday afternoon.

CTV News will update this story.