'Absolutely horrendous day' in Tataskweyak Cree Nation as wildfire destroys at least 7 homes
At least seven homes in Tataskweyak Cree Nation were destroyed Friday after a fire ignited and was quickly spread by heavy winds, the community's chief and council said in a social media post on Saturday.
"Yesterday was an absolutely horrendous day," Tataskweyak's leadership said in the statement.
Tataskweyak, also known as Split Lake, first declared a state of emergency on May 29 due to a nearby wildfire. An evacuation order was issued the next day for the community, just over 700 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
On June 17, just hours after Tataskweyak announced it was lifting the May evacuation order, the community declared a new state of emergency because its water treatment plant stopped working. Community members were asked not to return home until the issues were resolved.
On Friday night, Tataskweyak Chief Doreen Spence urged community members to head to the band office for an RCMP escort to the town of Gillam, about 90 kilometres east of Tataskweyak.
The 2025 Manitoba wildfire season in photos:
About 175 people were taken to Gillam's recreation centre, according to Tataskweyak's chief and council, who also said fire crews from Gillam and York Factory First Nation are expected in Tataskweyak on Saturday to help battle the blaze.
Highway 280, which runs from Tataskweyak to the city of Thompson, was closed from the junction of Highway 391 to Gilliam due to fire, the province's 511 service said.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the northern First Nation advocacy group Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak said Saturday that Marcel Colomb First Nation, in northwestern Manitoba, is also evacuating again due to wildfire.
About 600 residents of the nearby town of Lynn Lake began to evacuate Friday, only two weeks after they returned from an earlier evacuation.
Highway 391, from Lynn Lake to Marcel Colomb First Nation, was also closed Friday night due to fire, according to 511.
While the province of Manitoba has lifted an earlier provincewide state of emergency, its latest fire bulletin on Friday said the western and northeastern areas of the province still have a high to very high fire danger, with some pockets of extreme fire danger.
The Manitoba Wildfire Service was responding to 64 active wildfires across the province as of Friday, and there had been a total of 205 wildfires to date — above the average of 176 total fires for this point in the year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
15 minutes ago
- CBC
Wildfire smoke prompts air quality advisory for most of Manitoba
Social Sharing A special air quality statement is in effect for most of Manitoba as wildfire smoke leads to poor air quality and reduced visibility. Environment and Climate Change Canada's statement, issued early Sunday morning, is in effect in parts of northern Manitoba as well as the Interlake region and the province's southeast, including Winnipeg. The smoke may cause irritation, headaches or a mild cough, the federal agency said. More severe symptoms include wheezing and chest pains. Environment Canada is asking people to limit time outdoors and consider rescheduling open-air activities. Windows and doors should be kept closed as much as possible when indoors, it said.
CBC
20 minutes ago
- CBC
Rainfall, thunderstorm warnings Sunday in eastern Ontario, western Quebec
A rainfall warning has been issued for a wide swath of the Outaouais to the north and west of Gatineau, Que., while thunderstorm warnings and watches are in place elsewhere in the region. Bands of heavy rain will begin falling Sunday night and Monday morning, according to the warning issued by Environment Canada just after 1 p.m. on Sunday. Accompanying thunderstorms mean that up to 100 millimetres could come down by Monday afternoon in communities like Cantley, Wakefield, Shawville and Maniwaki, Environment Canada said. The rain could cause flash floods and localized flooding in low-lying areas, Environment Canada said. People should be on the lookout for washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts. Storm warning issued near Vankleek Hill Shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday, a thunderstorm warning was issued for a swath of eastern Ontario stretching from Clarence-Rockland through Vankleek Hill along to the Quebec border. Meteorologists were tracking a storm capable of producing powerful wind gusts, nickel-sized hail and heavy rain, Environment Canada Said. Much of the wider Ottawa-Gatineau area, meanwhile, was under a thunderstorm watch. That advisory covers an area stretching from Renfrew in the west to Cornwall in the east, and as far south as the Perth area. It also covers the city of Gatineau and parts of the Outaouais to the northeast. Thunderstorm watches are issued when a severe storm is possible. A warning means one is happening or likely about to happen.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Air quality statement issued for much of Manitoba due to wildfire smoke
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued special air quality statement in majority of Manitoba, as shown. Uploaded July 6, 2025. (ECCC) Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a special air quality statement at 6:47 a.m. Sunday for much of Manitoba. The statement, prompted by wildfire smoke, is in effect for several regions, including Winnipeg, Lac du Bonnet and Steinbach. ECCC said air quality and visibility may vary considerably from one area to another and can change quickly over the course of a few hours. 'People more likely to be impacted by outdoor air pollution, including people aged 65 and older, pregnant people, infants and young children, people with an existing illness or chronic health condition, and people who work outdoors, should reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms,' the agency said in the statement.
