More than 25,000 residents in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta have been forced to evacuate their homes as dozens of wildfires continue to burn across the region, sending thick smoke into the United States and worsening air quality in several states.
Manitoba, the hardest-hit province, declared a state of emergency and has evacuated approximately 17,000 people so far. Saskatchewan reported 8,000 evacuations, with numbers expected to rise, while Alberta has relocated around 1,300 residents.
Officials warn that smoke from the fires is rapidly changing conditions, causing serious health and visibility concerns. Saskatchewan’s Public Safety Agency noted that “air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and vary considerably from hour to hour.”
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said reinforcements are arriving from other Canadian provinces and U.S. states including Alaska, Oregon, and Arizona to support firefighting efforts. Moe described the situation as critical in the coming days due to hot and dry weather fueling fire spread. “The next four to seven days are absolutely critical,” he said.
Among the most threatened communities is Flin Flon in Manitoba, where over 5,000 residents have been evacuated. A major fire near Creighton, Saskatchewan, which crossed into Manitoba, remains difficult to contain. In Cranberry Portage, Manitoba, a wildfire caused a power outage and forced about 600 residents to evacuate.
Efforts to control the fires have been hindered by thick smoke that grounded water bombers and by a drone incursion that disrupted aerial firefighting operations. The U.S. Forest Service has deployed an air tanker to Alberta and plans to send 150 firefighters and equipment to assist.
In the United States, air quality reached “unhealthy” levels Sunday in North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, and South Dakota, with meteorologists warning of more Canadian smoke expected over the next week.
Meanwhile, a wildfire in Idaho near the Canadian border burned at least 100 acres, causing road closures and limited evacuations. Strong winds and difficult terrain are complicating containment efforts.
Evacuation centers have opened across Manitoba, including one in Winkler near the U.S. border. Winnipeg is housing evacuees in public buildings, while hotels are near capacity due to displaced residents, tourists, and event attendees. Indigenous leaders have called on the government to prioritize hotel accommodations for evacuees. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson expressed concern over children sleeping on floors, urging for community support.
Canada’s wildfire season, which runs from May through September, is experiencing heightened activity this year following the record-breaking 2023 season that blanketed large parts of North America in hazardous smoke for months.
Nzubechukwu Eze
