The overwhelming majority of wildfires in Manitoba have been started by people, according to provincial government data.
As the wildfires in Manitoba continue to ravage across the province, the Fire Situation Report from Manitoba’s Natural Resources Department found that 99 of the past 109 fires reported this year were human-caused.
Only five fires were “natural caused” while another five fires remain under investigation.
The Alberta government announced similar findings last year after nearly all of the province’s wildfires in 2024 were human-caused.
Thousands have been evacuated across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where officials have declared a state of emergency as dozens of out-of-control wildfires rage on.
Hundreds of residents had to flee their homes in northern Manitoba over the weekend as communities were threatened by smoke.
Nearly 600 people from Cranberry Portage were evacuated and are expected to be removed from their homes for the next several days.
Around 17,000 Manitobans have had to leave their homes since the fires began last month.
Pimicikamak Cree Nation was also evacuated last week with multiple flights departing for Winnipeg.
“We are pleading with hotel operators across Manitoba, please find room for our people,” said Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation.
“Families have fled their homes under terrifying conditions and have nowhere to go. We need you to act now. Open your doors, work with us and help ensure our citizens are treated with dignity during this crisis.”
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs released a statement calling for the Manitoba government to “commandeer facilities and allocate resources” under the emergency powers granted by the province’s declared state of emergency.
“We are calling on all hotels and accommodations in Winnipeg and across the province to open their doors to displaced First Nations families,” said Grand Chief Kyra Wilson.
“These are our relatives, our neighbours, and fellow Manitobans. They need safe shelter immediately.”
Emergency centres across the province have been opened, including as far south as Winkler, Manitoba, located only 20 kilometres from the U.S. border.
“The next four to seven days are absolutely critical until we can find our way to changing weather patterns, and ultimately a soaking rain throughout the north,” Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe told reporters on Saturday.
“That’s why we are asking people in the north to be very, very careful. We cannot manage and handle a single other fire.”