Dangerous wildfires in Manitoba force state of emergency, 20,000 evacuated

Wildfires raging across Manitoba have led to a state of emergency and forced 20,000 people to evacuate, Premier Wab Kinew said Wednesday, calling it the largest evacuation the province has seen in recent memory.

The Canadian Armed Forces are now helping with evacuations and firefighting efforts, able to transport residents to safety “in hours instead of days,” Kinew added.

Earlier this month, two people died after being trapped by fire near Winnipeg. Many evacuees are being sheltered in sports arenas and community centers in Winnipeg and other cities.

Residents from affected towns like Flin Flon and Creighton described chaotic and emotional scenes as they fled the advancing fires. Nearby communities have been told to prepare for possible evacuation.

Across Canada, over 166 fires are burning, with 84 considered out of control in provinces including Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia. Smoke from the fires is expected to reach parts of the U.S. Midwest by Friday, triggering air quality alerts in cities such as Minneapolis, Detroit, and Chicago.

Canada experienced its worst wildfire season on record in 2023, burning over 42 million acres — an area larger than England. Scientists link worsening wildfire seasons to climate change, which is hitting Canada especially hard, with warming rates twice the global average and Arctic warming three times faster.

The growing threat highlights the urgent need for climate action as wildfires become more frequent and severe.

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