Wildfire Triggers Urgent Evacuation Effort from Pukatawagan

More than 120 Pukatawagan residents completed a 16-hour journey by train to Winnipeg during a large-scale evacuation caused by a fast-moving wildfire in northern Manitoba. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Pukatawagan, or Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, lies about 700 kilometers northwest of Winnipeg. A wildfire nearing 9,800 hectares prompted authorities to enforce an evacuation order last Wednesday when Manitoba declared a state of emergency.

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River Caribou, one of the evacuees, said residents were rushed from the community to The Pas, then held in an arena for 12 hours before departing for Winnipeg by rail. “Everyone was on edge,” Caribou said.

Evacuation Sends Residents to Ontario and Manitoba Shelters

Premier Wab Kinew announced on Sunday that roughly 3,500 people will be temporarily relocated to hotels in southern Ontario. That same day, about 300 evacuees departed for the province.

Kinew added that more hotel rooms in Manitoba will be available by Tuesday. Authorities are prioritizing residents from Pukatawagan, Norway House, and Split Lake, with many evacuees currently in Gillam.

Chinook Flights Support Final Evacuation Stages

According to Coun. Kelly Linklater, around 1,300 people have already left Pukatawagan, but over 1,000 still await evacuation. Chinook helicopters continue transporting those remaining to safe areas.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking at a separate event in Calgary, praised first responders and federal teams. He noted the challenge of evacuating isolated communities but said progress remains steady despite the early fire season.

These evacuation efforts highlight the logistical complexity of relocating thousands amid unpredictable wildfire conditions. And while early progress is encouraging, officials stress that the situation remains volatile across the region.

Source: www.cbc.ca

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