Wildfire smoke forces evac of 2 Manitoba towns, air quality alerts
Wildfire smoke has also triggered widespread air quality warnings.
Wildfire smoke has reached such extreme levels that now there are two communities in Manitoba have to evacuate.
Some 152 residents of Little Grand Rapids First Nation began to be flown out of the community, near the Ontario border, on Saturday evening, with priority given to babies and people with respiratory issues. Most of the evacuees are being taken to Winnipeg, and the situation will be monitored to determine if more evacuations become needed.
It's possible an additional 50 people could leave Pauingassi First Nation, which is about 280 kilometres north of Winnipeg. That evacuation order went into effect shortly before noon on Sunday.
"There's fires all around us, no matter which way the wind is blowing," Chief Raymond Keeper told CBC News. "They're not small fires, either."
Fires in neighbouring northwestern Ontario have also resulted in the evacuation of hundreds of people, with Canadian Forces deployed Saturday to assist.
The extra smoke in the atmosphere has made for a visible haze, reported by numerous people in the region on social media.
Air quality statements cover much of northwestern Ontario and Manitoba, including Winnipeg, and though a change in the wind will start to bring relief, it won't be even.
"In the Red River Valley, the worst of the smoke should clear out this morning, however lesser amounts could linger into tonight," Environment Canada says. "However, communities toward the Ontario border, such as Little Grand Rapids and Bissett, may still experience poor air quality through tonight and into Monday."
