An evacuation is underway at Bunibonibee Cree Nation as a raging wildfire burns out of control, encroaching on the community in northeastern Manitoba.
The Canadian Red Cross said crews were alerted by the First Nation to start the evacuation on Tuesday. Flights out of the community began taking off Wednesday morning, with evacuees being relocated to Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson.
“Our team is working with the community to help get everybody out of the community that needs to get out,” Jason Small, a spokesperson for the Canadian Red Cross, told CBC News in an interview Wednesday.
Data from the province shows the wildfire was first detected more than a week ago on Aug. 4. The blaze has been burning out of control since, stretching to just over 5,700 hectares as of the latest update on Tuesday.
The Red Cross is also supporting the partial evacuation of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and Tataskweyak Cree Nation. Residents with health issues are being relocated from both communities Wednesday due to the wildfire smoke.