A lightning-caused wildfire that had moved to within 15 kilometres of Lynn Lake June 26 prompted a voluntary evacuation by nearly 100 residents of nearby Marcel Colomb Cree Nation as well as for town residents with health concerns or breathing difficulties.
Ninety-seven residents of Marcel Colomb Cree Nation self-evacuated in their own vehicles to Lynn Lake June 24, prompting the federal government to activate the Red Cross the following day to provide support such as lodging, food and personal items. Evacuees were either staying with family or friends or in hotel rooms in Lynn Lake but are now being moved to Thompson in their vehicles or in buses provided by the Red Cross.
The Town of Lynn Lake was under voluntary evacuation status June 26 for priority one residents, including those with breathing problems or other conditions that could be worsened by smoke, as well as children under five years old and pregnant women. Residents who were voluntarily evacuating were registered at the Corner Pocket Hall prior to leaving town and were advised to be prepared to be away for up to seven days.
Provincial Emergency Social Services were made available to help support evacuees if necessary and the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) is ready to assist with protecting property, which can include setting up sprinklers on homes in the community.
Nineteen new fires had started province-wide in the previous 24 hours up to June 26, including 13 in the northeast region and four in the northwest region. Lightning caused all the new northwest region fires, and all but one of the northeast region fires, with the other being human-caused.
There were 27 fires burning in the northeast region June 26, including two classified as out of control, two being held and five under control. Eleven other fires were being watched and no action was being taken on the remaining seven. The northwest region had five fires burning, including two that were out of control, two under control and one being watched.
Resources deployed to fight the northeastern and northwestern fires June 26 included 134 firefighters, 10 helicopters, four water bombers and eight other aircraft.
A total of 46 fires were burning province-wide June 26 and there have been 270 to date, well above the 20-year average of 197 up to that date. About 200 of those have been caused by people with the rest the result of lightning.
