More evacuations from northeastern Manitoba as wildfire balloons in size

More than a week after a raging wildfire started burning out of control in northeastern Manitoba, another community has begun evacuations due to the threat of smoke to vulnerable residents.

A partial evacuation started at Manto Sipi Cree Nationon Tuesday evening, with 46 residents fleeing the community. Over 200 more are expected to leave in the coming days.

Manto Sipi is the latest community in northeasternManitoba to face evacuationsdue to thewildfiresouth of Gods Lake, whichhas now balloonedto 24,320 hectares in size, from 6,000 hectares just a couple of days earlier, according to the province.

The fire had already promptedpartial evacuationsfromWasagamack,Red Sucker Lake andGod's Lake First Nations over the weekend.

Manto Sipi Chief Michael Yellowback said the decision was made at aband council meeting on Monday, as the First Nation was under a cloud of heavy wildfire smoke. The air quality worsened, andflights with grocery supplies for the community couldn't land because of the poorvisibility.

"That triggered us to initiate an evacuation order," Yellowback told CBC Wednesday, adding the band council contacted Indigenous Services Canada and the Red Cross Monday morning to startflying vulnerable residents, including elders with health concerns and people with respiratory issues, out as soon as possible.

Evacuations didn't begin until Tuesday evening, more than a day after the order was issued. Yellowback said a flight took 46 residentsto Brandon, nearly 700 kilometres to the southwest of Manto Sipi.

The community is set to evacuate a total of 250 residents, withmore flightsplanned for Wednesday and Thursday.

Some of those eligible to leave havedecided to stay in the community, but "[the] majority of the people have agreed to travel out," said Yellowback.

The smoke has started to recede, butstill poses a threat to community members.

"We're encouraging the community not to open their windows and to exercise caution," Yellowback said.

Rain brings respite from smoke

Precipitationnear Beaver Lake, west ofthe wildfire, on Tuesday night gave somerespite from the heavy smoke to some communities that had been blanketed for several days now.Environment Canada said10 to 20 millimetres of rain fellin the area.

God's Lake First Nation Chief Gilbert Andrew said his communitygot some of that rain, which helped to slightly clear up the air overnight.

Although the blaze is stillat least 20 kilometres away from the community, wind gusts continue to blowwildfire smoke in.

Evacuations fromGod's Lake First Nationbegan last Wednesday, after authorities decided to evacuate around 200 people over health concerns from the smoke, Andrew said.

Several rounds of air evacuations flew vulnerable residents, including children, elders and people with breathing problems, about 550kilometres southwest toWinnipeg.

"People were anxious. They did not know what would happen," Andrew said.

No more evacuations are plannedat the moment, but Andrew said there is no timeline yet for the return of evacuees to God's Lake First Nation.

The Canadian Red Cross said 227peoplefrom God's Lake First Nation are currently registered and staying at hotels in Winnipeg, along with 300 from WasagamackFirst Nation and 211 fromRed Sucker Lake Anisininew Nation.

There are also 204 evacuees fromMarcel Colomb First Nation, in northwestern Manitoba, registered with the Red Cross at Winnipeg hotels, after a fire forced the full evacuation of that community.

The province says as of Wednesday,there are58 wildfires in Manitoba, 16 of which are burning out of control.In addition to support from Ontario, two water bombers have been sent fromQuebec to help fight the Manitoba fires, along with an observationplane from New Brunswick, the province said.