The government of Manitoba has declared a state of emergency as over 100 wildfires are blazing across the province, threatening homes and lives. This year, blazes have consumed a staggering 2.5 million acres, potentially marking the worst fire season since 1994. The situation worsened on Friday, with multiple fires declared out of control.
Higher summer temperatures are intensifying the wildfire crisis, which typically spans March to October. Lightning is a primary cause of these blazes, and the provincial capital, Winnipeg, even faced a severe thunderstorm warning.
Recently, nine communities have been ordered to evacuate, including Snow Lake and the Garden Hill First Nation. Premier Wab Kinew emphasized the need for more shelter facilities to support the influx of evacuees. More than 4,000 individuals from Garden Hill were relocated to shelters in Winnipeg, facilitated by aid from the federal government.
To combat the fires, American firefighters have joined the effort, while Kinew criticized U.S. lawmakers for politicizing the situation, highlighting the gravity of the wildfires that already claimed lives earlier in the year. The declaration comes on top of a previous emergency issued in May when two fatalities were reported and thousands had to flee their homes.
