WINNIPEG — Fast-moving wildfires spurred by dry, hot and windy conditions prompted communities in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario to issue evacuation orders Wednesday as the regions endure another day of sweltering heat.
About 1,000 people were ordered to leave a popular area for cottagers as wildfires continued to burn in eastern Manitoba.
One fire destroyed buildings in the Rural Municipality of Lac Du Bonnet, a popular lakefront cottage area northeast of Winnipeg.
"Unfortunately, we have had some loss of structures in the area. We're just going through a damage assessment in that area with Manitoba Hydro," said Loren Schinkel, the municipality's reeve.
The blaze near Lac Du Bonnet remained out of control Wednesday and covered 30 square kilometres. Nearby, a second out-of-control fire near Nopiming Provincial Park covered 1,000 square kilometres.
Crews have not been able to respond to that fire because of "extremely volatile fire behaviour," making it unsafe, said Kristin Hayward with Manitoba Wildfire Service.
Days of hot, dry and windy conditions have fed fires in and around provincial parks in eastern Manitoba. Mandatory evacuation orders were put in effect, and many hiking trails, resorts and other amenities were off-limits.
The Manitoba government said there are 24 active fires, six of which are of concern.
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for five provincial parks, three local authorities, three northern communities and 24 cottage subdivisions.
"Manitoba is one of the most active jurisdictions right now in Canada in terms of the complexity of the fires that we have," Hayward told a news conference Wednesday.
The province is expected to see some precipitation later in the week, but Hayward said the forecasted amounts are not in the range that would help put out the flames or make any appreciable difference in suppressing them.
"We would need a good soaking rain," she said. "A couple of inches, a couple days of rain to keep the humidity levels high. We want to keep those kind of moist conditions happening, lower temperatures. Those would all help our fire situation."
Manitoba Hydro has announced plans to have its employees leave the Pointe du Bois and Slave Falls generating stations because the fires are threatening to cut off road access to the facilities.
The province is also monitoring a fire near Ingolf, Ont., near the Manitoba boundary.
Ontario officials have said an out-of-control fire in the area has more than doubled since Tuesday to around 230 square kilometres.
Provincial police say they are helping to evacuate a First Nation located northeast of the fire. Residents and cottagers along several lakes near the boundary, including Malachi and Mantario, have also been encouraged to evacuate.
Fire officials say the situation is rapidly evolving and that additional orders or restrictions may come into effect if necessary to protect public safety and facilitate fire suppression.
— With files from Jordan Omstead in Toronto.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2025.
Steve Lambert and Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press
