Tiasha Tabassum: First Nation in Manitoba’s Parkland region has declared a local state of emergency due to dangerous raging wildfire. The location is 430 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg and the nearby community is threatened by the smoke and flames. Although firemen are working their best to stop the fire the unfavourable warm and windy weather making it tough. The fire has covered 100 kilometres of land already.
Almost 100 local people on the western side of Lake Winnipegosis evacuated themselves over the weekend in fear. Later on they were permitted to return home on Tuesday. Dealing with wildfire amidst of COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge, expressed Pine Creek, Chief Karen Batson. Shee said, “It is a stressful time. We are trying to access some mental-health services with having COVID-19 as well.” She hopes that the state of emergency will be useful in the process to fight with this wildfire and will help the community.
Helicopters and water bombers are providing support to firefighters trying to contain and put out the flames from the ground. The nearby Camperville is also alert and prepared to fight the fire, confirmed by Mayor Joseph Klyne.
“Things can change fairly quickly,” Batson said. “So that’s why we have to have our community members on alert, have bags packed in case they have to leave quickly — we can get them out of the community and to safety.” She thinks they really need rain right now to extinguish the wildfire.
