Residents evacuated as wildfire threatens RM of Alexander for 2nd time in recent weeks

Arturo Chang · CBC News

· Posted: May 12, 2025 7:47 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

Some residents of a assemblage successful eastbound Manitoba were asked to permission their spot retired of concerns a adjacent wildfire whitethorn endanger their homes should winds crook their way.

People surviving successful the Rural Municipality of Alexander betwixt Hill Road and the Bird River span were advised to evacuate Monday day aft a occurrence began northbound of the Bird River area.

Chief administrative serviceman Gisele Smith said the fig of radical who whitethorn person had to evacuate is presently unknown.

"There are a batch of cottages successful that area," she said.

"I was told that it wasn't going to impact people, residents oregon properties unless the upwind turned, and so then that's wherever the interest is. And there's dense fume close now."

The evacuation portion includes Ridge Road, Pioneer Drive, Beaver Drive, Moose Row and the Southland Church Bible Camp. Residents are being asked to spell to a reception centre successful the Great Falls assemblage hall.

Cottagers who registered for the RM's exigency alert strategy volition get notifications astir the evacuation, Smith said.

The state is besides closing Highway 314 done Nopiming Provincial Park bordering the RM to the northeast amid a abstracted fire.

The authorities said Monday day the occurrence is presently astir 400 hectares and that crews are moving connected it.

The state said it's recommended radical successful the cottage subdivisions successful Bird River and adjacent Tanco excavation to evacuate.

This is the 2nd occurrence the RM of Alexander has had to woody with successful caller weeks. People successful Traverse Bay were forced out of their homes after a occurrence ravaged done hectares of Crown onshore successful precocious April.

Bob Kozyra said helium was heading up to his cottage erstwhile helium saw the fire, and decided to crook astir retired of concerns helium could end up stranded.

"The smoke, you could odor it, you could perceive the crackling of the flames and you tin virtually ticker the occurrence going crossed and astir apt wrong a 4th of a kilometre from the road," helium said.

"I anticipation the [water bombers] were capable to enactment immoderate benignant of power connected it. But … the upwind was big-time causing immoderate problems."

The RM of Alexander is astir 100 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, connected Lake Winnipeg's confederate shore.