Red Cross closing Winnipeg convention centre shelter for Island Lake evacuees

One of two Winnipeg emergency shelters housing evacuees from fire-threatened First Nations in Manitoba will close this week, the Canadian Red Cross announced Wednesday.

Effective Thursday, the organization will shut down the shelter at the RBC Convention Centre, said Red Cross spokesperson Jason Small.

The emergency shelter was established on Aug. 31, after thousands of evacuees from Wasagamack, Garden Hill and St. Theresa Point First Nationswere flown to Winnipeg and Brandon as a wildfires approached the communities.

In total, around 4,200 people were forced from their homes in the three First Nations.

• In pictures: Manitoba First Nation wildfire evacuations
• Military to help evacuate 3 Manitoba First Nations at risk from wildfire

At the time, there weren't enough hotel rooms in Winnipeg to house all the evacuees. In the days following, more hotel rooms have become available in the city and evacuees have gone to stay with family or friends in Winnipeg, Small said.

A second shelter at theWinnipeg Soccer North indoor complex was established on Sept. 1 and will remain open, Small said.Evacuees who aren't staying with friends or family, or at hotels, will stay at the soccer complex.

"Last night, between the two shelters, there was less than 375 people who slept at the shelters and there was less than 125 at the convention centre, so we felt that we could shut one of them down," Small said.

• Red Cross considers closing 1 of 2 Winnipeg emergency shelters for evacuees from Island Lake area
• Staff at RBC Convention Centre bring comfort to evacuees
• Winnipeg emergency shelters take in wave of wildfire evacuees

Small said the Red Cross chose to keepthe soccer complex openas it is equipped with showers unlike the convention centreand is closer to shopping and a large park.