ManitobaFires threatening Leaf Rapids, Man., have moved within two kilometres of the evacuated northern community, which remains surrounded by encroaching wildfires, Manitoba officials say.Hot weekend weather, not much rain add to fire danger in northern ManitobaCBC News · Posted: Jul 21, 2025 12:35 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoA helicopter crew works on a wildfire in northern Manitoba during Premier Wab Kinew’s helicopter tour in the area around Flin Flon on June 12. (Mike Deal/The Canadian Press/Pool)Fires threatening Leaf Rapids, Man., have moved within two kilometres of the evacuated northern community, which remains surrounded by encroaching wildfires, Manitoba officials say.A combination of hot weather and not much rain over the weekend in the north has fire suppression crews on high alert, with a focus on Leaf Rapids. It’s surrounded on all sides by fire, said Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister for the Manitoba Wildfire Service.”We’re particularly concerned about that fire today given we have northwest winds and a lot of good fuel in front of that fire toward the town,” Hayward said during the province’s Monday fire update.She said there is a fire guard built around the town, about 750 kilometres north of Winnipeg, as well as boots on the ground ready to go should fires get to the community’s edge.The announcement comes as 19 local states of emergency are in place and nine communities remain evacuated, including Leaf Rapids, a community of over 300.Fire suppression crews are also keeping a close eye on Laurie River Generating Station, Kettle Rapids Dam, Garden Hill Anisininew Nation, Snow Lake and Leaf Rapids, said Hayward.”We had hot, dry conditions over the weekend and saw increased fire behaviour on nearly all fires,” Hayward said.”Fire danger remains high to very high in eastern to northern areas, with some areas of extreme fire danger. Western and central areas have low fire danger.”Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister for the Manitoba Wildfire Service, speaks to media during the provincial wildfire update on Monday. (CBC/Radio-Canada)She said less than one millimetre of rain has generally fallen on the worst-hit fire areas in recent days.More than 13,000 Manitobans displaced from their homes are staying with loved ones, at hotels and in congregate shelters, said Christine Stevens, assistant deputy minister, Manitoba Emergency Management Organization.Of those, nearly 2,500 were in hotels as of Monday, up from 145 on last Thursday, she said. Another 840 evacuees are living in congregate shelter spaces such as the one at the University of Winnipeg RecPlex.Smoke challenges effortsThis weekend crews were able to hold one fire near Thompson, two near Cross Lake and Norway House, one near Tataskweyak Cree Nation and another near Flin Flon, Bakers Narrows, Sherridon and Cold Lake, Hayward said.But low visibility due to smoke limited the ability of aerial crews to fight flames from above.Smoke also compromised efforts in eastern Manitoba in the Bird River and Nopiming Provincial Park area. Hayward said the focus on the ground in recent days has been on protecting properties and equipment.”Definitely, the smoky conditions are impacting our ability to action from the air,” she said. “But the good thing, too, is sometimes very smoky conditions lessen fire behaviour so we don’t see the fires as active those days either.”Officials are also monitoring fires threatening Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and Island Lake, particularly St. Theresa Point and Wagasamack First Nations. Hayward said the risk of those fires advancing remains relatively low.The risk to Thompson also remains low, said Hayward. “We’re pretty confident in the control we have there, it’s been tested a number of times and has held,” she said.”We also have rain moving into the Thompson area into today and into tomorrow, so that should help to keep fire activity pretty low. We are not concerned for Thompson at this time.”As of Monday, there are 120 active fires and there have been 331 to date this fire season. Manitoba’s 20-year average for fires for this time of year is 243, Hayward said.Manitoba declared a provincewide state of emergency July 10, the second this spring, amid a surge in wildfire-related threats to mostly northern and remote communities.Nearly 1.3 million hectares of Manitoba has burned to date this year.WATCH | Manitoba wildfire update for Monday, July 21:Officials with Manitoba’s wildfire and emergency management provide an update on the province’s current situation on Monday.
Stirring winds raise concern of worsening fires surrounding Leaf Rapids, Man.
