Residents of the rural municipality of Lac du Bonnet who have managed to go back to their homes are expressing gratitude for the recent rainfall. However, officials caution that this alone won’t be enough to significantly enhance the wildfire situation across the province.
The evacuation order for permanent residents living in an area south of Wendigo Road in the eastern Manitoba municipality was lifted Wednesday evening, according to the The website for the RM of Lac du Bonnet .
Re-entry was approved for residents of the Wendigo Road neighborhoods and homes from Provincial Route 313 to Newcombe Road at 8 p.m. that evening. The local government stated that up to 50 families might now have access to return to their houses.
Cathie Austen was at a friend’s cottage when she learned that local residents were permitted to go back home. By 8 p.m., she had joined the queue and was prepared to head back.
She exclaimed, ‘Hooray! ’ and did what she called the traditional joy jig.
Environment Canada has stated that certain parts of southern Manitoba experienced up to 70 millimeters of rainfall in the past 48 hours. However, southeastern sections like Lac du Bonnet had received under 10 millimeters of rain as of early Friday.
But more rain is on the way — along with a temperature drop — with the agency forecasting a period of rain mixed with snow after midnight Friday in the area, and risk of freezing rain overnight.
Jack Brisco, the mayor of the RM of Alexander—which is grappling with one of Manitoba’s most significant ongoing wildfires in the Nopiming region—mentioned that conditions have become more favorable due to cooler and wetter weather. However, this change brought about certain issues on Friday morning as well.
Reeve mentions that they require additional rainfall.
As of Friday afternoon’s provincial fire update, the blaze threatening the Lac du Bonnet region has stayed at approximately 4,000 hectares. Several regions remain under evacuation orders with travel restrictions still in place.
The rainfall is assisting, however, clearly there are still areas that remain extremely dry. There are tree stumps and trees continuing to burn from within," stated RM of Lac du Bonnet Reeve Loren Schinkel, noting that it could require up to two or three days for any evacuation notices to be altered, even under ideal meteorological conditions.
We have concerns regarding both lives and possessions," Schinkel stated. "We've been informed that the blaze in that region reignited last evening, and Wildfire Services has assured us they won’t cease their efforts until everything is thoroughly extinguished and safe enough for inhabitants to come back.
He's asking locals to remain patient as authorities await better conditions before rescinding additional evacuation orders.
"One might assume that even a small amount of dampness could aid in putting out the fire—and it does. However, we require several consecutive days of heavy rainfall to truly gain control over it," he stated.
The wildfire in the rural area killed two people and has demolished at least 28 structures.
On Friday, Ronald Runzer returned to discover that his house remained intact, though his workshop and storage sheds had been reduced to ashes.
“I feel fortunate,” he stated. “Two of my neighbors passed away, and several others lost all their possessions.”
Gay Kirby mentioned that two vehicles along with several of her family’s residences were demolished; however, miraculously, her house remained intact. She also shared that she barely managed to escape herself.
Helicopter escape
When she and her husband were heading toward safety from their house on the Lettonia peninsula, they encountered a "wall of flames" blocking their escape route.
Instead of continuing, they returned to their neighbors' house, where they were informed that nobody had heard anything about the fire and no one had departed yet.
"She mentioned that their house is located near a beach, and they figured that if the fire reaches them, being on the beach would keep them safe," she explained.
Kirby mentioned that she subsequently called one of her sons, who reached out to the RCMP to inform them about their whereabouts. The family was at the beach when they noticed a helicopter approaching them.
She mentioned, 'We were completely unaware that it was meant for us.' The helicopter eventually landed in the nearby field, which thankfully was large enough to accommodate it. We entered with our neighbors' dog along with all four of us and departed from there.
Kirby mentioned that if her son hadn’t contacted the RCMP, they wouldn’t have been able to get out of the situation.
"They appreciate the emergency measures; everyone is putting forth their greatest effort,” she stated. “The RCMP along with the provincial helicopters—the community has done everything possible under such awful circumstances, and continues to do so.”
