The Manitoba wildfires evacuation crisis escalated Thursday as fierce wildfires forced communities to flee and disrupted rescue efforts across the province’s north. In Pukatawagan, also known as Mathias Colomb, heavy smoke engulfed the airfield, forcing authorities to shut down the airport mid-evacuation around 6:30 p.m.
Chief Gordie Bear confirmed the shutdown and said shifting winds pushed dense smoke directly over the runway. Located nearly 700 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, Pukatawagan faced one of the worst threats as fires moved dangerously close. By the time smoke made flying impossible, officials had evacuated only 200 residents, leaving nearly 2,000 people behind.
The wildfire, spanning 9,800 hectares, remained out of control. Provincial maps showed the flames less than one kilometre from the airport by Wednesday. As conditions worsened, Chief Bear shared his concern that they may need to flee to the lake if fire crews couldn’t stop the spread.
Local resident Venessa Hart described rising panic as the air thickened with smoke. She stressed that aircraft couldn’t land safely. Her voice shook with fear as she asked how anyone could leave. She worried for women, children, babies, and elders still waiting for rescue.
Rashelle Colomb, one of the few evacuated, landed in Brandon Thursday evening. She shared her daughter’s reaction after seeing the flames from the plane window. The child cried, asking for her father, who stayed behind in Pukatawagan to assist with medical transport. Colomb hoped everyone else would get out in time.
Meanwhile, Tataskweyak Cree Nation declared its own state of emergency. A fire reached within one kilometre of the community and knocked out power shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Chief Doreen Spence said officials had already evacuated about 200 of the 2,400 residents, prioritizing infants, elders, and medical patients.
Spence said she and other leaders urgently need candles, flashlights, and generators. Without power, people fear losing perishable food. She admitted not knowing what the next few days might bring.
Fires also cut off Provincial Road 280 between Thompson and Gillam. The closure stranded several community members who traveled to Thompson for appointments. With roads blocked and fires expanding, many now face uncertainty about how to return home.
In Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake), wildfires forced another round of evacuations. Manitoba Hydro pulled staff from its nearby Jenpeg generating station, just two kilometres from the fire. The utility clarified that the station was offline for maintenance, so no customers would lose power. However, other fire-related outages affected Lynn Lake and Sherridon. Crews couldn’t assess the damage because of thick smoke and intense heat.
The Manitoba wildfires evacuation has overwhelmed emergency services. Airport closures, roadblocks, and worsening weather have made rescue efforts complex and dangerous. On Wednesday, the province declared a state of emergency to coordinate a broader response. Officials also introduced travel restrictions to reduce wildfire risks caused by human activity.
Starting Friday at 8 a.m., Manitoba will close hiking trails and water routes in all 22 burn permit areas. People must limit watercraft use to developed shorelines, and campers can only use official campgrounds. All existing burn permits are void. However, industrial and agricultural operations may receive exceptions after inspection. Conservation officers will issue travel permits on a case-by-case basis.
Northern Manitoba remains under serious threat. While authorities continue working to rescue stranded residents, many communities fear that time is running out. Without relief from the weather or additional firefighting resources, the fires could grow stronger in the days ahead.
