Manitoba wildfire update: 29 blazes active, 10 out of control, thousands displaced

Manitoba’s province-wide state of emergency remains active this morning as 29 wildfires continue to burn across the north, east, and west. According to the Manitoba Wildfire Service, at least 10 of these fires remain out of control. Officials confirmed that 21,000 residents from 27 communities have now been evacuated, including large swathes of Flin Flon, Snow Lake, and Pimicikamak Cree Nation.

Emergency response teams made up of helicopter pilots, bulldozer operators, rail engineers, and international wildfire crews are racing to protect infrastructure and halt the fire’s spread under hazardous conditions. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) has escalated the national response to Preparedness Level 5—the highest tier of wildfire response readiness in Canada.

What started the Manitoba wildfires and how widespread is the damage?

The current fire crisis was triggered by prolonged dry weather and above-average temperatures across the Prairies, with the first major blazes breaking out in late May. By early June, fire activity intensified rapidly across northern Manitoba, fueled by wind-driven flare-ups and unusually low humidity. The CIFFC recorded over 3.49 million hectares burned across Canada as of June 10, with Manitoba contributing significantly to that total.

Officials have confirmed that northern and central regions of the province remain most affected, with major fire clusters surrounding The Pas, Pukatawagan, and Flin Flon. In addition to extensive ecological damage, infrastructure including power lines, roads, and rail networks has been directly threatened. Rail bridges vital to Indigenous and remote communities are being actively defended by Keewatin Railway workers.

What happened at the Pukatawagan rail corridor?

Rail infrastructure in the north has become a critical frontline in the province’s fire response. Track supervisor Clifford Nabess of Keewatin Railway Company described how his team is protecting 16 bridge crossings between The Pas and Pukatawagan by deploying water trucks and clearing vegetation.

Speaking through provincial updates, Nabess said some crew members drove directly through fire zones to reach at-risk assets, enduring thick smoke and extreme heat. These rail lines are essential for food, fuel, and medical transport to several First Nations communities—most of which are otherwise inaccessible.

Due to low visibility, aerial firefighting aircraft including water bombers were grounded at times near the corridor. However, helicopters have continued to operate where possible, conducting water drops and conducting fire mapping missions. U.S. and Australian teams have now joined efforts to assist Manitoba crews with both air and ground support.

How are helicopter crews helping fight the fires?

Helicopter support remains a linchpin in Manitoba’s response strategy. Pilots from Columbia Helicopters and other contracted outfits have been operating under dense smoke conditions to deliver water to critical sites and assist in reconnaissance for ground crews.

According to provincial emergency officials, these helicopters are performing dozens of missions daily when weather permits. Their priority is protecting settlements, transport corridors, and assisting in direct attack missions. Despite occasional grounding due to smoke, their impact has been described as “indispensable” by multiple fire management agencies.

Where have evacuations occurred and how are evacuees being supported?

The province has now evacuated over 21,000 individuals across 27 communities, with thousands transported hundreds of kilometers to southern staging areas and temporary shelters.

Premier Wab Kinew confirmed in a press conference on June 11 that shelters have been activated in Winnipeg, Thompson, and other urban areas. With hotel capacity exhausted in many locations, evacuees have been relocated as far as Niagara Falls, Ontario. Approximately 2,500 individuals are being housed in hotels and community centers in southern Ontario alone.

Indigenous Services Canada, the Red Cross, and the Canadian Armed Forces are coordinating relief operations alongside provincial authorities. Emergency Assistance Payments have been authorized for affected families, and food, clothing, and trauma support services are being deployed to shelter sites.

Why is this fire season worse than previous years?

The scale and intensity of this year’s fire season have already eclipsed much of what was recorded in 2023—then considered Canada’s worst fire year on record. Meteorologists and fire scientists attribute the current situation to compounding climate factors, including prolonged drought conditions, elevated temperatures, and increasing lightning frequency across northern boreal forests.

As of June 12, Environment and Climate Change Canada forecasts continued dry weather across Manitoba, with no substantial rainfall expected over the next five days. These conditions have kept fuel loads dry and highly flammable, further complicating suppression efforts.

What are officials and agencies doing to contain the situation?

Manitoba Wildfire Service has deployed hundreds of personnel, dozens of dozers, and aerial support platforms across the affected zones. Reinforcements from the United States began arriving last week, followed by support teams from Australia this week. According to Manitoba’s Minister of Natural Resources, 125 international firefighters are now embedded within tactical units to relieve exhausted provincial crews.

The Canadian Armed Forces have provided logistical airlift, medical support, and emergency communications, particularly in areas cut off from power and mobile networks. The CIFFC has also activated its national resource-sharing protocol to reallocate suppression assets to high-risk zones in Manitoba and neighboring provinces.

What are the next steps and possible risks?

The fire threat remains elevated, particularly in zones where out-of-control fires continue to expand unchecked. Officials have flagged Flin Flon, Sherridon, and areas north of The Pas as still being at high risk. Rail service disruptions are expected to continue for weeks in northern sectors.

Infrastructure repair and reentry plans will be developed once firelines are stabilized. However, air-quality alerts remain active across much of central and eastern Canada, and smoke has already crossed into the northern United States and parts of Europe, triggering health warnings abroad.

The provincial government is urging all residents in threatened areas to remain alert to evacuation notices and travel advisories. Burn bans remain in effect across Manitoba.

How are governments and Indigenous leaders responding to the Manitoba wildfire crisis?

Political and community leaders, including Assembly of First Nations Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, have called for long-term investments in wildfire mitigation, including permanent fire stations, hydrant systems, and equipment stockpiles in Indigenous and remote communities.

There is growing institutional consensus that Manitoba’s current response capacity—while robust—is under strain due to the frequency and severity of fire events linked to broader climate patterns.

Public sentiment remains supportive of frontline workers, many of whom have been recognized in community broadcasts and national coverage for extraordinary bravery under extreme duress.