Fires force people to flee in northern Manitoba

WINNIPEG The weather co-operated Thursday with efforts to evacuate more than 1,000 people from two First Nations communities threatened by forest fires in northern Manitoba.

With thick smoke no longer causing trouble at the airport in Little Grand Rapids, planes and helicopters were moving people out of the community as well as neighbouring Pauingassi, about 260 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

“Things are going smoothly at

this point. Our focus is on getting the last people out,” said Jason Small of the Canadian Red Cross.

“As long as everything goes well, we are working toward getting everybody out ... by the end of today.”

A dry spring has led to an early forest fire season across Manitoba. There have already been 173 wildfires, compared to an average of 105 at this time of year, the province said.

The blaze near Little Grand Rapids broke out earlier this week and had grown to cover 200

square kilometres. Chief Raymond Keeper of Little Grand Rapids said homes were damaged but no one was killed. “Material stuff can be replaced but lives can’t be, so we’re very fortunate,” Keeper said.

“They picked up another small bundle (of people) this morning and they’re just looking to see if there’s any more left.”

The fire knocked out power, but crews were keeping the fire from affecting any more houses.

The chief and council at Little Grand Rapids said they had asked

for help Monday and accused the federal government of being slow in responding. As well, thick smoke near the airport initially hampered the evacuation effort.

The Canadian Red Cross, which is in charge of the evacuation, was using chartered private planes, a military transport plane and a military Chinook helicopter. The helicopter was being used primarily in Pauingassi, which has no airport and lies 12 kilometres from Little Grand Rapids.