Article content
Conditions surrounding wildfires burning near Flin Flon and The Pas have improved to the point that evacuees will be allowed to return home Sunday.
Article content
“Improvements in the weather and work by crews on the fire mean residents of affected communities will be allowed to return home on Sunday morning,” the Manitoba Wildfire Service announced on Friday afternoon.
Article content
As of Friday afternoon, the fire near Flin Flon remains at approximately 37,000 hectares and the fireline closest to Cranberry Portage is under control. As a result, residents of Cranberry Portage, the cottage subdivisions of Sourdough Bay, Whitefish Lake, Twin Lakes and Schist Lake North have now been cleared to return to their homes as of 10 a.m., Sunday. Highway 10 and the Sherridon access road will also reopen to traffic and residents will be allowed to return to their homes at 10 a.m., Sunday. A small number of properties have been damaged by fire but impacted residents are being notified prior to the area reopening.
Article content
Significant resources continue suppression efforts including six water bombers, seven helicopters, over 200 provincial personnel, 40 firefighters from Ontario, five from Parks Canada, 20 from New Brunswick arriving today and 21 from Quebec arriving this weekend.
Provincial Emergency Social Services will be available to residents and the reception centres at the Wescana Inn in The Pas and the Victoria Inn in Flin Flon will remain open this weekend.
Fire WE011 near Wanless north of The Pas is approximately 2,785 hectares and approximately 2.5 km from the community of Wanless. Crews are working to protect the hydro line between The Pas and Cranberry Portage. The fire is approximately 2 km away from PTH 10; anyone travelling on PTH 10 may be impacted by poor visibility due to smoke.
Campgrounds in Bakers Narrows and Grass River provincial parks remain closed until at least May 27 including Bakers Narrows, Gyles, Iskwasum Landing and Reed Lake. Backcountry travel along the Grass River from Cranberry Portage to Reed Lake is prohibited. Karst Spring Self-guiding Trail is closed. For updates visit www.manitobaparks.com.
Share this article in your social network