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yesterday

Prairie wildfires force Manitoba and Saskatchewan to declare emergencies

Provincial governments alongside Ottawa have deployed military aircraft to assist evacuations under parched conditions offering no sign of relief.

Smoke rises from wildfire WE024 in Manitoba, Canada, May 27, 2025.
Smoke rises from wildfire WE023 near Wanless, Manitoba, Canada May 27, 2025. Manitoba Government/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
Smoke rises from the WE017 wildfire, which has prompted a state of emergency and evacuation of Sherridon, Manitoba, Canada May 27, 2025. Manitoba Government/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
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Overview

  • Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew declared a provincewide state of emergency on May 28 after wildfires forced over 17,000 residents, including those in Flin Flon, to flee their homes.
  • On May 29, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe issued a provincewide emergency as more than 4,000 people evacuated from Pelican Narrows and other northern communities.
  • Prime Minister Mark Carney authorized Canadian Armed Forces deployment for aerial evacuation flights and additional firefighting support in remote areas.
  • Nearly 200,000 hectares have burned in Manitoba this month—triple the five-year average—with forecasts showing no significant rainfall to slow the blazes.
  • Oil and gas operations in northern Alberta and Manitoba have shut down, and evacuees are being housed in Winnipeg recreation centers after hotels reached capacity.