As the sun rose over northern Manitoba, revealing a rust-colored sky choked with smoke, Chief Marcel Moody of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation faced an impossible decision. Evacuate his community of 3,000 people or gamble with their safety as a wall of flame edged closer to their homes.
“When you can taste ash in your morning coffee, that’s when you know it’s time,” Chief Moody told me during a brief phone call as he coordinated with emergency services. “We’ve seen dry seasons before, but nothing like this.”
Yesterday, the Manitoba government declared a state of emergency as wildfires threatened multiple northern communities, forcing thousands to flee their homes with little warning. The emergency declaration came after weeks of escalating conditions that provincial officials now describe as “unprecedented for this early in the season.”
The rapidly expanding fire complex near Thompson has already consumed over 75,000 hectares of boreal forest. Provincial data shows this represents nearly double the five-year average for total area burned by this date, a troubling indicator of what might lie ahead as summer approaches.
For Melissa Cameron, a mother of three from the evacuated community of Cross Lake, the experience has been harrowing. “We had twenty minutes to decide what matters most in our lives,” she explained from a temporary shelter in Winnipeg. “How do you pack up generations of memories that quickly?”
According to the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization, approximately 4,800 people have been evacuated from five northern communities since Tuesday. Provincial resources have been stretched to their limits, prompting Premier Wab Kinew to request federal assistance.
“We’re activating all available resources, but the scale of these fires demands national support,” Premier Kinew stated during yesterday’s press conference. “Climate change isn’t some future problem anymore—it’s burning through our communities today.”
The Canadian Armed Forces have deployed two C-130 Hercules aircraft to assist with evacuation efforts, while Emergency Preparedness Canada has allocated $3.5 million in immediate relief funding. Indigenous Services Canada has also activated emergency protocols to support affected First Nations.
Dr. Ellen Thompson, a climate scientist at the University of Manitoba, points to a troubling pattern. “What we’re witnessing follows predictive models for the region under climate change scenarios—earlier fire seasons, more intense burns, and critically shorter recovery periods between major events.”
Thompson’s research team has documented a 37% increase in fire-susceptible conditions across northern Manitoba over the past decade. “Communities that once faced a major fire risk perhaps once every generation are now preparing for them nearly every season,” she added.
The human toll extends beyond immediate safety concerns. Schools in affected communities have suspended operations indefinitely. The Thompson Regional Hospital reported treating 31 patients for smoke inhalation in the past 48 hours, while also preparing contingency plans should evacuation become necessary.
Manitoba Hydro crews are working around the clock to protect critical infrastructure. A spokesperson confirmed that three transmission lines have already been damaged, creating periodic power outages across the region. Fire mitigation efforts around the Kelsey Generating Station have been intensified to prevent catastrophic damage to the provincial power grid.
For Indigenous communities, the emergency carries additional cultural weight. Elder Joseph Beardy from God’s Lake First Nation explained, “These lands hold our stories, our medicines, our ancestors. When the forest burns, we lose more than trees—we lose access to our living cultural heritage.”
The provincial emergency coordination center has established shelter operations in Thompson, The Pas, and Winnipeg. Red Cross officials report that approximately 1,200 evacuees are currently housed in Winnipeg hotels, with more expected as operations continue.
Local businesses across Manitoba have responded with remarkable generosity. The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce reports that over 75 businesses have offered support ranging from free meals to temporary employment opportunities for evacuees.
“Manitobans always show up for each other,” said James Richardson, owner of a Winnipeg restaurant that provided 300 free meals to evacuees yesterday. “These folks didn’t ask to have their lives turned upside down.”
Weather forecasts offer little immediate relief. Environment Canada predicts continued dry conditions with strong northwesterly winds of 30-40 km/h expected tomorrow, conditions that wildfire management experts warn could further complicate containment efforts.
Provincial fire management teams have established a unified command center in Thompson, coordinating 28 ground crews, 15 water bombers, and numerous helicopter units. Additional firefighting resources from Saskatchewan and Ontario are expected to arrive within 48 hours under provincial mutual aid agreements.
For those on the frontlines, the challenge is daunting. “We’re essentially trying to hold back an ocean with a garden hose,” said veteran firefighter Carmen Rodriguez, who’s been battling the blaze near Cross Lake for three consecutive shifts. “The fire creates its own weather system at this point.”
As evacuation operations continue, emergency officials urge Manitobans to heed all evacuation orders immediately and to register with the Red Cross evacuation system, even if staying with friends or family.
For Chief Moody and thousands of others, the future remains uncertain. “Our community has stood on this land for generations,” he said, his voice steady despite the circumstances. “We’ll be back to rebuild what’s lost. But first, we need to make sure everyone survives to see that day.”
