Latest news with #Tataskweyak
CTV News
06-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Seven homes destroyed by fire on Manitoba First Nation, community's leadership says
A helicopter crew works on a wildfire in northern Manitoba during a helicopter tour in the surrounding area of Flin Flon, Man. on Thursday, June 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mike Deal-Pool SPLIT LAKE — A wildfire in northern Manitoba has destroyed seven homes in a day the chief and council of the local First Nation are calling 'horrendous.' Officials of Tataskweyak Cree Nation say in a Facebook post that a fire that ignited northwest of the community on Friday was fanned by strong winds, and that approximately 175 residents have been evacuated east to Gillam, Man. Tataskweyak was evacuated earlier in the fire season and had lifted the order in mid-June, but then had to push back the date when people could return due to problems with its water system. It's not the only Manitoba community facing another evacuation — 600 residents of Lynn Lake have also been ordered out of their community for the second time this year due to wildfires after town officials said a fire was threatening Manitoba Hydro transmission line. A large fire near Tataskweyak has been burning since late May and has been listed as out-of-control by Manitoba's Natural Resources department for most of the time since then. It briefly changed to being held for a few days at the end of June before switching back to out-of-control. 'Yesterday, was an absolutely horrendous day,' the Facebook post from the chief and council of Tataskweyak Cree Nation on Saturday said, noting that seven homes were destroyed. 'To the families that lost their homes … we understand being away, and finding out you no longer have a home is absolutely heartbreaking. We have no other words to say, but we will be here, to offer you support in any way we can.' Chief Doreen Spence livestreamed video on Saturday afternoon from a helicopter over the blaze. The video showed numerous smoke plumes, large and small. The order to flee came suddenly. Spence posted a video Friday updating residents about water testing, when she noted that flames had jumped the fire line and strong winds were blowing the fire towards the community. 'If results are in our favour, then you guys will return home,' Spence said about the water testing. Not long after, she posted videos of smoke, and told people that the community's leadership had been told everybody had to leave. 'Gas up, pack your stuff, go to the band hall, or if you need a ride, you can message myself. The RCMP are knocking on doors here again, to make sure everybody is out of their homes,' she said in a later video. Manitoba has been experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons in recent years, and about 21,000 people were forced to flee their homes in June. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2025. The Canadian Press
CBC
05-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
'Absolutely horrendous day' in Tataskweyak Cree Nation as wildfire destroys at least 7 homes
Several homes on a First Nation in northeastern Manitoba have been destroyed by wildfire that has forced nearly 200 people to evacuate from the community. 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.
Global News
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Thousands set to return home after fires force Flin Flon, Man., residents out
Thousands of residents from the northern Manitoba city of Flin Flon are expected to return home today after a menacing wildfire forced them to flee nearly a month ago. The out-of-control wildfire is still burning, but officials say crews have been able to contain it to outside the community that sits on the Saskatchewan boundary. Officials add disaster and recovery assistance will be available on site for returning residents, as will a food bank handing out perishable and non-perishable items. About 5,000 Flin Flon residents, as well as roughly 1,000 from the city's surrounding area, were displaced across Manitoba due to nearby blazes. Mayor George Fontaine says the city hasn't lost homes or businesses to fire, but residents are to start cleaning up things like spoiled food in fridges and freezers as they return. Story continues below advertisement Fontaine says residents have been told to have an emergency bag packed in case the fire re-enters the community. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The odds of it are not high right now, but it's not outside the realm of possibility,' Fontaine said in an interview. At one point, upwards of 21,000 people across Manitoba were forced out in what is believed to be the largest exodus the province has seen in recent years. Many communities have been allowed to return home in recent weeks. Some, such as the Tataskweyak and Mathias Colomb Cree nations, remain evacuated. The Bakers Narrows Provincial Park is set to reopen Wednesday morning for permanent residents, cottagers and commercial operators. The campground will remain closed for nightly and seasonal campers until at least July 17. Elsewhere, campgrounds in Nopiming Provincial Park, in eastern Manitoba, have been given tentative reopening dates after some areas were issued mandatory evacuation orders last month. The Bird Lake campground will remain closed until at least July 10, while the campground at Tulabi Falls requires extensive cleanup. It is expected to remain closed until at least Aug. 4. Fontaine said the evacuation process has been different for each community member. Some have had the option of staying with friends or family, but others have been shuffled around to different evacuation shelters and hotels. Story continues below advertisement Many are feeling a sense of relief about returning home, he said. 'They're ready to see their own beds again,' said Fontaine.
Hamilton Spectator
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
Thousands set to return home after fires force Flin Flon, Man., residents out
FLIN FLON - Thousands of residents from the northern Manitoba city of Flin Flon are expected to return home today after a menacing wildfire forced them to flee nearly a month ago. The out-of-control wildfire is still burning, but officials say crews have been able to contain it to outside the community that sits on the Saskatchewan boundary. Officials add disaster and recovery assistance will be available on site for returning residents, as will a food bank handing out perishable and non-perishable items. About 5,000 Flin Flon residents, as well as roughly 1,000 from the city's surrounding area, were displaced across Manitoba due to nearby blazes. Mayor George Fontaine says the city hasn't lost homes or businesses to fire, but residents are to start cleaning up things like spoiled food in fridges and freezers as they return. Fontaine says residents have been told to have an emergency bag packed in case the fire re-enters the community. 'The odds of it are not high right now, but it's not outside the realm of possibility,' Fontaine said in an interview. At one point, upwards of 21,000 people across Manitoba were forced out in what is believed to be the largest exodus the province has seen in recent years. Many communities have been allowed to return home in recent weeks. Some, such as the Tataskweyak and Mathias Colomb Cree nations, remain evacuated. The Bakers Narrows Provincial Park is set to reopen Wednesday morning for permanent residents, cottagers and commercial operators. The campground will remain closed for nightly and seasonal campers until at least July 17. Elsewhere, campgrounds in Nopiming Provincial Park, in eastern Manitoba, have been given tentative reopening dates after some areas were issued mandatory evacuation orders last month. The Bird Lake campground will remain closed until at least July 10, while the campground at Tulabi Falls requires extensive cleanup. It is expected to remain closed until at least Aug. 4. Fontaine said the evacuation process has been different for each community member. Some have had the option of staying with friends or family, but others have been shuffled around to different evacuation shelters and hotels. Many are feeling a sense of relief about returning home, he said. 'They're ready to see their own beds again,' said Fontaine. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2025. — By Brittany Hobson in Winnipeg Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Thousands set to return home after fires force Flin Flon, Man., residents out
FLIN FLON – Thousands of residents from the northern Manitoba city of Flin Flon are expected to return home today after a menacing wildfire forced them to flee nearly a month ago. The out-of-control wildfire is still burning, but officials say crews have been able to contain it to outside the community that sits on the Saskatchewan boundary. Officials add disaster and recovery assistance will be available on site for returning residents, as will a food bank handing out perishable and non-perishable items. About 5,000 Flin Flon residents, as well as roughly 1,000 from the city's surrounding area, were displaced across Manitoba due to nearby blazes. Mayor George Fontaine says the city hasn't lost homes or businesses to fire, but residents are to start cleaning up things like spoiled food in fridges and freezers as they return. Fontaine says residents have been told to have an emergency bag packed in case the fire re-enters the community. 'The odds of it are not high right now, but it's not outside the realm of possibility,' Fontaine said in an interview. At one point, upwards of 21,000 people across Manitoba were forced out in what is believed to be the largest exodus the province has seen in recent years. Many communities have been allowed to return home in recent weeks. Some, such as the Tataskweyak and Mathias Colomb Cree nations, remain evacuated. The Bakers Narrows Provincial Park is set to reopen Wednesday morning for permanent residents, cottagers and commercial operators. The campground will remain closed for nightly and seasonal campers until at least July 17. Elsewhere, campgrounds in Nopiming Provincial Park, in eastern Manitoba, have been given tentative reopening dates after some areas were issued mandatory evacuation orders last month. The Bird Lake campground will remain closed until at least July 10, while the campground at Tulabi Falls requires extensive cleanup. It is expected to remain closed until at least Aug. 4. Fontaine said the evacuation process has been different for each community member. Some have had the option of staying with friends or family, but others have been shuffled around to different evacuation shelters and hotels. Many are feeling a sense of relief about returning home, he said. 'They're ready to see their own beds again,' said Fontaine. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2025. — By Brittany Hobson in Winnipeg
