Manitoba issues second state of emergency this year as wildfires force 12,600 evacuations, including Garden Hill and Snow Lake.
State of Emergency Reinstated Amid Worsening Wildfires
The Manitoba government has declared a provincewide state of emergency for the second time this year as raging wildfires prompted mandatory evacuations across northern communities, Premier Wab Kinew announced Thursday.
Communities Ordered to Flee
Garden Hill Anisininew Nation and the town of Snow Lake are the latest areas forced into evacuation. Garden Hill, located about 475 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, began evacuating Thursday morning after a wildfire entered the fly-in community. Meanwhile, over 1,000 residents of Snow Lake, nearly 600 kilometres northwest of the capital, were ordered out by noon.
As of Thursday afternoon, more than 12,600 people had fled their homes across Manitoba.
Emergency Resources and Shelter Plans
The emergency declaration, effective as of 12:01 p.m. Thursday, allows the province to commandeer resources like the RBC Convention Centre in downtown Winnipeg. That site may accommodate up to 7,000 evacuees, though plans are being coordinated around an anime event already scheduled this weekend.
Other shelters, including the Leila Avenue soccer complex and Billy Mosienko Arena, are being reopened. However, hotel space is nearing capacity. Premier Kinew confirmed elders and those with medical needs will be prioritized for remaining hotel rooms, with congregate shelters now serving the broader public.
Concerns Over Shelter Conditions
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), representing 26 northern First Nations, issued a statement Thursday voicing concern about the use of congregate shelters. The organization urged the province to prioritize safer accommodations for vulnerable populations, including elders and children.
Kinew responded, saying officials are doing their best to balance health concerns, space availability, and the urgency of mass displacement.
Wildfire Activity Reaches Unprecedented Levels
Three wildfires exhibiting “extreme behaviour” were burning near Garden Hill on Wednesday, two of which have since merged, endangering critical infrastructure like fuel tanks, said Kristin Hayward, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Manitoba Wildfire Service. Wekusko Falls Provincial Park near Snow Lake has been shut down.
Officials report 261 wildfires to date—well above the 20-year average of 197 by this point in the season. Over 1 million hectares have burned, more than ten times the norm.
“This is the worst wildfire year in our 30-year electronic record,” Hayward said.
National and International Support Mobilized
The Canadian Armed Forces is assisting with evacuations, including Hercules aircraft flying residents out of Garden Hill. Additional support has arrived from abroad: 100 firefighters from Mexico, a New Zealand incident management team, and 25 personnel from Minnesota are now in Manitoba to assist.
Premier Kinew also confirmed that Alberta has offered to support evacuees if needed, though no firm plans are yet in place.
Preparing for Future Climate Challenges
“This wildfire season is setting records in all the wrong ways,” said Kinew. “But Manitobans are responding in all the right ones.”
He acknowledged the worsening climate crisis, emphasizing the need for long-term adaptation. “The climate is changing, and our society will need to change along with it.”
Meanwhile, residents are urged to remain evacuated until further notice, as emergency crews battle historic fire conditions.
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