ManitobaManitoba is experiencing the worst wildfire season in recent memory, with thousands forced out of multiple communities. Here’s a list of those communities and information on how mandatory evacuees can get financial support.28 active wildfires burning across Manitoba, 113 total to dateCBC News · Posted: Jun 04, 2025 1:20 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 7A wildfire is seen near Sherridon, Man., on May 27. (Government of Manitoba)Manitoba continues to be under a very high to extreme danger of wildfires, despite cooling temperatures and rain in the forecast, the province said in its latest fire bulletin on Saturday.Manitoba is experiencing the worst wildfire season in recent memory, with thousands forced out of multiple communities.On May 28, Premier Wab Kinew declared a provincewide state of emergency, which will remain in effect until at least June 26.The Manitoba government estimates more than 17,000 have become evacuees due to the fires, but it’s hard to know the exact number, since not everyone has registered with the Canadian Red Cross.The Canadian Red Cross had registered about 18,000 people from over 7,100 households evacuated due to the fires as of Thursday, June 5, the province said in a fire bulletin.As of Friday, June 6, the province said eligible evacuees can apply for support through its wildfire incidental support program. To qualify, evacuees must be permanent Manitoba residents, have a primary residence in a community or First Nation with a mandatory evacuation and be registered with the Canadian Red Cross (see information below).Manitobans evacuated under a mandatory order are eligible to receive $34 per day for everyone age 13 and older and $27 per day for children 12 and under.More information about the support program can be found on the province’s website.Mandatory evacuations are in place for: Bakers Narrows. Big Island Lake. Bissett. Cranberry Portage. Flin Flon. Grass River Provincial Park. Lake Athapapuskow. Little Athapapuskow cottage area. Lynn Lake. Marcel Colomb First Nation (Black Sturgeon). Nopiming Provincial Park. Parts of Whiteshell Provincial Park. Payuk Lake. Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) and the incorporated community of Cross Lake. Pukatawagan (Mathias Colomb Cree Nation). Schist Lake. Sherridon. Snow Lake. Tataskweyak Cree Nation (Split Lake). Twin Lake. Wekusko Falls Provincial Park. White Lake (northwest region). Voluntary evacuation orders are in place for: Opaskwayak Cree Nation. Wanless (two-hour evacuation notice lifted on June 6). Four First Nations in the Island Lake region — Garden Hill, St. Theresa Point, Wasagamack and Red Sucker Lake — and Misipawistik Cree Nation are evacuating some vulnerable residents from the communities because of worsening air quality.Norway House and Chemawawin Cree Nation (Easterville) are under evacuation notices, with people ordered to be ready to leave. A two-hour evacuation notice is also in place for the RM of Alexander, from Tall Timber Road to Hill Drive.The two-hour evacuation notices for Rocky Lake East and North and Wanless were lifted on June 6, according to Saturday’s fire bulletin.As of June 7, there were 28 active wildfires across Manitoba and a total of 113 to date, which is above the average of 97 for this time of year, according to the province.A total of about 733,820 hectares have burned in Manitoba so far this year as of June 6. At this time in 2024, about 43,138 hectares had burned, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.That site contains daily statistics on the number of new fires in each province and territory, how many out-of-province firefighters are helping in each region, the types of aircraft being used and fire averages over five to 25 years.According to the site, 62 more firefighters from Quebec and 100 more from the United States were helping with firefighting efforts in Manitoba as of June 4.All evacuees in the province are encouraged to register with the Red Cross as soon as possible.That can be done online at www.redcross.ca/2025manitobawildfires or by calling 1-800-863-6582 (toll-free) between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. CST.Congregate shelters have been set up across the province. There are shelters in Winnipeg, Thompson, Winkler and Portage la Prairie.Provincial emergency social services are working with partners to find shelter for anyone who needs it. The province has also said it is working to free up hotel space in Winnipeg after some residents from Pimicikamak Cree Nation were sent to a hotel in Niagara Falls, Ont.Evacuees who do not have a place to stay are asked to proceed to the nearest reception centre: Winnipeg: Billy Mosienko Arena, 709 Keewatin St. — open 24/7. Brandon: Victoria Inn, 3550 Victoria Ave. — open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thompson: Burntwood Hotel, 146 Selkirk Ave. — open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Are you an evacuee who needs assistance? Contact Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or email 211mb@findhelp.ca.Find the latest wildfire information: Canadian wildfire map. Province of Manitoba fire bulletins. CBC’s wildfire tracker.
Here’s what you need to know about the Manitoba wildfires
