Manitoba battling 16 wildfires by Friday, largest blazes clustered in the southeast

CBC News

· Posted: May 16, 2025 9:26 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

The fig of progressive wildfires successful Manitoba was somewhat reduced by Friday, but with much than a twelve inactive burning the state has heightened restrictions for unfastened blazes and question retired east. 

There person been 81 wildfires successful Manitoba truthful acold this twelvemonth — 16 of them are inactive active, according to a occurrence bulletin issued by the state connected Friday.

The fig is down from 21 wildfires the state said were progressive by Thursday. 

The largest progressive wildfire successful the province, adjacent Nopiming Provincial Park, stretches astir 100,000 hectares, according to the province. That occurrence has forced the evacuation of Bernic Lake Mine, 180 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg and adjacent to the Ontario border. 

The closest wildfire to Lac du Bonnet, wherever astatine slightest 800 radical were evacuated from their homes earlier this week, was six kilometres distant from the agrarian municipality by Friday. That blaze has burned astir 4,000 hectares to date.

The wildfire successful Ingolf, Ont., has dispersed implicit 4,000 hectares into Manitoba's east, wherever the state has declared a section authorities of emergency, a mandatory evacuation, and the impermanent closure of Whiteshell Provincial Park.

In the agrarian municipality of Piney, adjacent the U.S. border, crews, including helicopters, are battling a wildfire that has dispersed implicit 7,000 hectares adjacent the municipality of Carrick.

A wildfire is besides burning 2 kilometres distant from the Rural Municipality of Libau, astir 50 kilometres northbound of Winnipeg. According to the occurrence bulletin, the occurrence was astir 5,000 hectares successful size by Friday. 

A wildfire is inactive burning adjacent to The Pas successful Manitoba's northwest, spreading implicit 40,100 hectares by Friday. 

Travel and occurrence restrictions

The Manitoba Wildfire Service is heightening the level of question and occurrence restrictions successful the province's southeast corner. 

From the U.S. border to Highway 304, eastbound of Lake Winnipeg, backcountry travel, including with ATV, motorized vehicles and off-road vehicles is nary longer allowed, unless with a licence issued by a section conservation serviceman for concern operations. 

There is nary entree for outfitters, but for unit indispensable to support spot nether a question permit. A afloat occurrence prohibition remains successful effect and each existing burning permits person present been cancelled successful this area, according to the province. 

 A representation with each the restrictions is available on the province's website.