Manitoba Wildfires: Thousands Flee as Fires Intensify – DW – May 29, 2025

On Wednesday, over 17,000 individuals in Manitoba, Canada, were forced to evacuate as devastating wildfires spread across the province. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced a province-wide state of emergency due to the wildfire crisis, labeling it the largest evacuation the region has witnessed in recent history. Kinew has requested military assistance from Prime Minister Mark Carney to both aid in evacuation efforts and combat the fires. Military aircraft are expected to be deployed shortly to evacuated residents from endangered remote and northern communities, including the town of Flin Flon where 5,000 residents prepared to flee as a massive blaze threatened. The article includes embedded videos about living with wildfires in Canada and rebuilding after such disasters. Other regions, including Alberta, have seen temporary shutdowns of oil and gas operations and mandatory evacuations due to wildfires. This year has seen a severe wildfire season, with 134 ongoing fires across Canada, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario, with half of these fires considered uncontrollable. Earlier in May, a wildfire in Lac du Bonnet claimed the lives of two individuals, marking a grim season in Canada’s history.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/canada-thousands-evacuate-manitoba-province-as-wildfires-rage/a-72707231?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf