As Manitoba wildfires spread, Pimicikamak Cree Nation braces for the worst
As wildfires continue to intensify around Manitoba, residents in Pimicikamak Cree Nation are focusing on fire prevention and preparing for the worst.
Last weekend, a small fire, which has since been put out, spread quickly near the First Nation, about 530 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
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The May 4 fire reached Miranda Blacksmith's backyard, but her home was spared. She lives with her brother, Derek Robinson, who saw the fire spreading and then saw their neighbours evacuate
The fire "ran away so fast because it's so windy. The wind was blowing in all directions," Blacksmith told CBC News.
She said the community needs more resources to fight fires.
A fire last weekend reached the backyard of the house where Miranda Blacksmith and her brother, Derek Robinson, live. (Sanuda Ranawake/CBC)
"A fire is no joke, especially with a lot of kids around. And we only have two fire trucks in town," which are located at the other end of the community from her home, she said.
"So we need some kind of system in our reserve."
By May 7, Manitoba has usually seen around 35 wildfires on average, according to a provincial spokesperson. Last year, there had been 21 fires as of May 7.
But as of Wednesday, there had already been 59 fires in Manitoba this year, and there were 18 active as of Friday afternoon, according to the province's fire map. Five are currently out of control, the largest of which is near The Pas. None were burning in the Pimicikamak area as of Friday.
To prepare for future fires, the band council has already invested heavily in firefighting equipment, including drones to monitor fires, and is on a mission to recruit more firefighters.
But more support from the federal government is vital — especially to purchase a new fire engine and build a second fire hall for the community, says one councillor.
"So we recently just purchased about approximately $300,000 worth of equipment as a result of the wildfire in 2023," when a fire forced the sudden evacuation of the community, said Pimicikamak Cree Nation Coun. Blaine Smith.
"We want to get another fire hall in our community," he said. "We got a population of approximately 8,000 people, and for one fire department to serve 8,000 people is a lot."
In a statement, a spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada said the department provides $1.9 million annually for operations and maintenance for Pimicikamak, some of which is allocated by the First Nation to fire protection.
The department provided an additional $235,877 for fire equipment purchases in the 2023-24 fiscal year, the spokesperson said.
Pimicikamak Cree Nation Coun. Blaine Smith says the First Nation needs another fire hall. (Sanuda Ranawake/CBC)
The current conditions are also a concern for this year's fire season.
"Right now, it's dry," said Pimicikamak fire Chief Ray McKay, and he's concerned this might be a bad year for wildfires.
Fellow firefighter Tony Blacksmith, however, said careless behaviour is also a concern.
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A fire burns next to the road in a photo taken as Delaney McIntyre evacuated Sunset Beach in Clearwater Lake Provincial Park on Thursday night. (Delaney McIntyre/Facebook)
"People are careless about their cleaning habits and starting a fire and just leaving it unattended," he said.
This year, the community is focused on promoting fire prevention events at the fire hall, with hopes that people will be more careful, said Blacksmith.
Robinson and Blacksmith said they're not taking any chances. They already have a hose set up in their home in case any other fires get too close.
"It's just getting started, right?" Robinson said.
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This article, written by Sanuda Ranawake, was originally published for CBC News