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Manitoba Declares State of Emergency as Wildfires Force Mass Evacuations and Disrupt Energy Operations

 

A state of emergency has been declared in Manitoba as wildfires continue to rage across Central and Western Canada, triggering the mass evacuation of thousands of residents and disrupting vital oil and gas operations.

On Wednesday, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced that approximately 17,000 people in the province’s northern and eastern regions, including the town of Flin Flon, were being urged to evacuate immediately. The province is coordinating with the federal government and deploying armed forces to assist in the evacuation.

“This is the largest evacuation in living memory for many Manitobans, and it will require immense resources and coordination across all levels of government,” Kinew said at a press briefing. Many evacuees are being temporarily housed at community centres and sports facilities in Winnipeg and nearby cities.

The wildfire crisis is also escalating in Alberta, where fires have forced community evacuations and prompted energy companies to suspend operations. Cenovus Energy announced it was reducing nonessential personnel at its Foster Creek oil sands site as wildfires advance across the Bonnyville–Cold Lake area. One fire near Chipewyan Lake—located about 130 kilometres west of Fort McMurray—has already scorched approximately 2,900 hectares (11.2 square miles).

Although there was no immediate danger to Chipewyan Lake as of Wednesday, residents have been placed on a one-hour evacuation alert due to unpredictable wind conditions.

In Swan Hills, roughly 1,600 hectares of forest are burning out of control just 7 kilometres north of the town. Authorities ordered the evacuation of its 1,200 residents on Monday evening. Oil and gas producer Aspenleaf Energy, which operates in the area, has halted operations and shut in about 4,000 barrels per day of production as a precautionary measure.

Federal and provincial officials continue to monitor the fast-moving fires, which are being fuelled by dry weather and strong winds. The ongoing emergency highlights the increasing intensity and frequency of wildfires in Canada, posing a serious threat to both public safety and economic stability.

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