Thunderstorms in northern and western Manitoba have resulted in “several fires of concern,” the Manitoba Wildfire Service said Wednesday.
Multiple fires 27 kilometres east of Pukatawagan have grown into one large blaze approximately 2,392 hectares in size, a provincial wildfire update stated. Water bombers and crews remain on scene and are holding the fire south of Churchill River.
In northern Manitoba, a fire northeast of Thompson has grown to at least 6,000 hectares in size and is spreading north. Creeks and swamps are expected to reduce the fire’s spread south.
Other, smaller fires continue to burn in areas near Garden Hill, God’s Lake Narrows, Red Sucker Lake, and Marcel Colomb First Nation.
“Smoke from the wildfires continues to impact communities in the areas of these fires,” the bulletin reads.
“Area residents are advised to take precautions to protect against harmful smoke inhalation including limiting outdoor activity, staying indoors with windows and doors closed, setting air conditioning units in homes and vehicles to recirculate to avoid drawing smoke indoors and drinking plenty of water.”
The smoke is also reducing visibility for those traveling along Provincial Trunk Highway 391 and possibly Provincial Trunk Highway 280.
The number of active wildfires burning in the province is still well below average — there are 58 actively burning and there have been a total of 153 wildfires to date this year, compared to the recent yearly average of 257.