WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government issued evacuation orders in two provincial parks and shut down activities in some others Tuesday, as dry, hot weather continued to spur wildfires.
Cottagers, campers, lodge owners and others were asked in the morning to leave Nopiming Provincial Park in the eastern part of the province. Public and private developed areas in other nearby parks, such as Wallace Lake and Manigotagan River, were closed to the public.
The fire in Nopiming was first detected Monday and quickly grew to 50 square kilometres by Tuesday. It remained out of control.
By late afternoon, areas of Whiteshell Provincial Park, a popular destination for cottagers, canoeists and hikers to the south, were under an evacuation order due to an out-of-control, 80-square-kilometre fire along the provincial boundary with Ontario. The Mantario Trail, a well-known multi-day hiking path that runs along the boundary, was among the areas declared off-limits.
A dry, early spring, combined with days of 30-degree weather, has made for a busy start to the fire season.
"It's been a very big hit, with how hot it's been and how dry it's been," said Lisa Naylor, provincial minister responsible for emergency measures.
Fire crews have been brought in from other provinces. Many municipalities have enacted restrictions on backyard and campfires. The NDP government has asked people to refrain from making fires even in areas where they were still permitted.
The Nopiming fire was started naturally, but others this year have been human-caused, Naylor said.
Just south of Nopiming Provincial Park, residents in a section of the sprawling Rural Municipality of Alexander were told to leave as a precaution.
"There's more smoke there today than yesterday," deputy mayor Mac Kinghorn said.
"Right now, the wind's blowing in the right direction and we hope it stays that way."
The forecast offered hope for Kinghorn and others.
Cool, rainy weather is expected across much of Manitoba later in the week, with overnight lows close to freezing.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2025.
Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press
