Heat, dryness fan wildfire fears

WINNIPEG — A heat wave and dry vegetation are putting Manitoba at higher risk of wildfires, with additional municipalities imposing fire bans Thursday to try to prevent human-caused ignitions.

Mike Flannigan, a professor of wildland fire at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C., said there is a potential for a “very active” week or two based on current conditions and short-term weather forecasts.

“There’s a recipe for wildfire: vegetation — fuels — ignition and weather. The vegetation is there — the fuel — the weather is now coming or there, so it’s really about ignitions now,” he said. “People-caused ignitions are common in the spring, but we’re also kicking into lightning season, too.”

Flannigan cautioned that he has seen situations where the ingredients were there, but a flurry of new wildfires did not occur.

“Fortunately, there was no lightning and people were responsible. Let’s hope that’s what happens,” he said.

The province didn’t say how this week’s extreme heat could affect the wildfire outlook. A spokesperson pointed to the Manitoba Wildfire Service’s website, which displays daily fire danger maps.

Environment and Climate Change Canada, which issued a heat warning for much of Manitoba, expects daytime highs in the low to mid-30s and overnight lows in the high teens into early next week. Thunderstorms are possible.

Dauphin was Canada’s hot spot at 2 p.m. Thursday, with a temperature of 36.5 C.

“I can’t comment directly on how the (wildfire) risk will change, but when you’re looking at this sort of weather, it is something that you have to think about,” said Christy Climenhaga, a scientist with Environment Canada.

“Long stretches of heat, especially early in the season before things have really greened up a lot, can be problematic.”

This year’s wildfire season started later than 2025’s, which was Manitoba’s worst in 30 years.

The wildfire service’s website listed eight active fires Thursday, including two classified as out of control.

The largest of the two was just southwest of Easterville and Chemawawin Cree Nation in central Manitoba. The fire, about 400 hectares in size, didn’t pose a threat to the communities, said Chemawawin Chief Clarence Easter.

Water bombers and ground crews have attacked the blaze since it began Monday. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

“They bombarded it with water quite a bit (on Wednesday),” Easter said, adding east winds blew the fire and smoke away from the community.

He remains concerned about dry conditions and the potential for additional fires in the region.

“It snowed last week. All of a sudden it turned warm, and now you have fires,” he said. “(The fire risk) is pretty high. We have to be vigilant.”

Chemawawin has temporarily banned open fires. Easter encouraged people not to light fires and to avoid other actions that could ignite vegetation.

“People should be careful not to throw their cigarettes out, that kind of stuff, too,” he said.

About 1,700 people live in Chemawawin, roughly 450 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.

The second out-of-control wildfire was east of St. Claire Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park in eastern Manitoba. The fire, about eight hectares, began Wednesday. The cause is under investigation.

Almost 30 municipalities have implemented burning restrictions.

Flin Flon announced a temporary fire ban as a precaution Thursday, exactly a year after the northern city was evacuated while it was threatened by a large wildfire.

“We’re just entering into a hot spell — a few hot days coming along, with breezes — so people are concerned,” Mayor George Fontaine said. “(The ban) is just so that we’re not taking any chances.”

The measure prohibits all open fires and recreational fires, including those in approved pits. Fireworks and sky lanterns are also prohibited. Existing burn permits have been cancelled.

Flin Flon encouraged people to clear debris from around and underneath all-terrain and utility terrain vehicles after their use because dry debris can ignite.

The city spent the winter preparing for this year’s wildfire season. It purchased sprinkler trailers, and improved its communication with neighbouring municipalities and the province, Fontaine said.

Residents reflected on the one-year anniversary of the evacuation and the declaration of a provincial state of emergency.

“The feeling is one of hopefulness but caution,” Fontaine said. “It’s a different kind of feeling once you’ve experienced it. You’re going along, but you’ve got one eye looking kind of sideways just to make sure you’re ready in case something does happen.”

He encouraged people to keep an emergency bag packed in case they are forced to leave their home on short notice.

“I would suggest you keep your gas tanks full at all times in the summer because these things don’t come up with any particular warning, as we saw before,” Fontaine said.

Last month, Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Minister Ian Bushie said Manitoba is not expecting a repeat of 2025. Long-term forecasts suggest this season could be very active despite a later start, Flannigan said.

Modelling released by the federal government Thursday suggested fire danger will increase in the Prairies in July. The federal outlook noted drought has persisted for several years, and climate change is increasing wildfire risks.

Two people died in a wildfire fire near Lac du Bonnet during the 2025 season. More than 33,000 people were displaced — the most on record — as fires affected 60 communities, including remote First Nations. More than 2.3 million hectares of land were burned by more than 445 fires.

The NDP government has said it was as prepared as it possibly could have been last year. The province has since spent millions to improve future wildfire preparations and response.

Manitoba’s 2025-26 emergency expenditures were expected to be $333 million over budget due to last year’s fire season.

» Winnipeg Free Press