First Nation in Manitoba orders residents to leave due to evacuation of nearby town More wildfire evacuations LYNN LAKE — A First Nation in northern Manitoba is evacuating its residents due to a wildfire that’s threatening a nearby town. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, an Indigenous advocacy group, says in a statement that the Marcel Colomb First Nation has ordered the evacuation because it relies on critical infrastructure and resources from Lynn Lake, a town about 25 kilometres to the west whose residents have already left. The
statement says Lynn Lake, which began evacuation flights on Saturday, serves as a key supply and service hub for the First Nation and that it would be unsafe for its people to remain. The MKO statement says about 110 people are affected by the order. The wildfire that’s threatening Lynn Lake was late last week and grew quickly, with the Manitoba government’s wildfire information page reporting that it was over 50 square kilometres in size as of Saturday. The Town of Lynn Lake posted on
Facebook that Sunday would be another challenging day for firefighters and emergency personnel due to warm temperatures, low humidity and changing winds. Further east, the MKO statement says O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation is under a state of emergency and is evacuating priority residents, which includes people in need of medical assistance. It says fire has cut off access to Highway 493, the only road access into the First Nation. The statement notes that this is the second consecutive summer both First Nations have faced full or
partial evacuations due to wildfires.
Marcel Colomb First Nation, Lynn Lake, wildfire evacuation, Manitoba, Highway 493, O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation, state of emergency
So they’re just evacuating because of a fire? Wild.
Wait Lynn Lake is 25 km away and it’s already unsafe? Seems like they could’ve moved people sooner or something. Also Highway 493 being cut off sounds like a big deal but I’m not sure how far out that goes.
I don’t get it… if it’s “critical infrastructure” from Lynn Lake, why not just reroute supplies from somewhere else? Like there’s no other access? 110 people affected is scary though, hope they’re okay. Fire grew fast and winds changing like always, but I swear the weather always makes it worse and nobody plans for it.
This is the kind of thing where people say “just use the road” but the road is gone. I saw the Facebook post about firefighters having a bad day and warm temps and low humidity… that’s basically the recipe for disaster. Also feels like every summer is evacuation mode now, like it’s gonna keep happening every year until they change something big. Anyway, praying for Lynn Lake and whoever’s stuck without Highway 493.