'We don't have insurance on the memories': wildfires destroy Manitoba vacation getaways

CBC News

· Posted: May 21, 2025 10:31 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

As clouds of fume commencement to assistance successful parts of the province, Manitobans are learning astir the devastation near successful the aftermath of the wildfires. 

John Podworniak and his household mislaid their Beresford Lake compartment to the wildfire that's inactive burning in Nopiming Provincial Park. He said helium saw aerial pictures of the blaze online, and had a feeling that his compartment was gone.

"I've been told there's thing left," said Podworniak.

"We benignant of expected it but it was hard … you're numb from the news."

Podworniak built the compartment himself, and shared it with a friend. He spent years enjoying the remote, lakefront spot with his children and grandchildren.

"Taking the kids up there, they're swimming successful the lake. We could spell sportfishing past they'd get connected the bow of the boat, they could leap successful the lake."

Podworniak said he'll miss the remoteness of the cabin, spending clip with his household there, and enjoying the quiescent clip distant from the hustle and bustle.

"We had security connected it truthful we're OK that way. We don't person security connected the memories."

Podworniak hasn't seen the compartment since the wildfire happened, and is waiting until it's harmless to visit. He's considering rebuilding, but that volition beryllium connected however overmuch harm was done to the property. 

Richard Loiselle's household compartment was besides destroyed by the wildfires astatine Beresford Lake. It was a log compartment his household had already rebuilt once, aft losing a antithetic compartment successful the aforesaid spot to wildfire successful 1983.

"My dad's ever said a happening tin beryllium replaced," said Loiselle.

"All of our mementos and each of the memories volition enactment with us. The pictures volition enactment due to the fact that we person copies but the things, the things tin beryllium replaced."

Loiselle said helium was astatine the compartment a mates weeks earlier the fire, doing immoderate repairs, and getting acceptable for different play connected the lake. That was the past clip helium saw it.

"My older member got a telephone past Friday from the state saying that the occurrence had gone done (our) subdivision of cabins … each of the cabins successful our block, they're each gone."

Loiselle isn't definite if helium wants to rebuild, it volition beryllium connected however severely the country was impacted, and however overmuch of the surrounding wood was burned down.

The Manitoba authorities said astir 20 structures person been damaged successful Nopiming Provincial Park astatine Beresford Lake. An further 19 seasonal sites person burned astatine Black Lake, and successful Nopiming.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the state said the occurrence successful the Nopiming country was the largest presently burning successful the province, astatine astir 101,000 hectares. Mandatory evacuations stay successful spot for the park, arsenic good arsenic for Pointe du Bois, parts of the RM of Alexander, the Tanco Mine and the Wallace Lake Cottage Association.

Available security sum for wildfires

Rob de Pruis, the nationalist manager for Consumer and Industry Relations astatine the Insurance Bureau of Canada, said modular home, concern oregon secondary spot security includes harm caused by fire, including wildfires.

"There are dozens of providers successful Manitoba offering security sum for these types of events. So whether this is simply a rental property, a secondary residence similar a compartment oregon cottage, determination is readily disposable security sum for fire."

De Pruis said security premiums tin spell up wherever determination is greater hazard of wildfire, but premiums tin beryllium reduced if you person sprinkler systems installed. 

"In forested areas, wildfire is 1 of the biggest risks, truthful you whitethorn wage a small spot much than an country that doesn't person that aforesaid benignant of occurrence hazard coverage," said de Pruis.