Forest fire forces evacuation on Man. reserve

Forest fire forces evacuation on Man. reserve

20 May 2010

published by  www.cbc.ca


Last Updated: Thursday, May 20, 2010 | 6:49 PM CTComments21Recommend16

A 3,500-hectare fire continued to consume forest near Berens River First Nation on Thursday.A 3,500-hectare fire continued to consume forest near Berens River First Nation on Thursday.(Province of Manitoba)Fifty-five people from Berens River First Nation were airlifted out of the Manitoba community Wednesday night because of a health hazard posed by billowing smoke from a massive forest fire burning nearby.

Of 136 forest fires currently burning in the province, the one 24 kilometres northeast of the reserve is the largest at 3,500 hectares, fire officials said.

About 80 firefighters are battling the fire, and the province is using water bombers and other aircraft to try and contain it.

Fire officials said they believe a person set the fire but can’t say yet whether they did so intentionally.

People living on the reserve were forced out largely because the smoke was so thick it presented a health hazard for people with respiratory problems.

Three planes were contracted to airlift them to Winnipeg, about 270 kilometres southwest of the reserve.

Rene McKay told CBC News he’s lived on the reserve all his life and has never seen such heavy smoke.

“Never — not that close anyway. It was quite heavy, McKay said.

Officials said the fire poses no threat to homes or other buildings in the community.

The fire risk is high throughout the area because it has been an extremely dry spring, officials said.Billowing smoke from the fire forced the province to airlift 55 people from the community on Wednesday night. Billowing smoke from the fire forced the province to airlift 55 people from the community on Wednesday night. (Province of Manitoba)

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/05/20/man-berens-river-forest-fire.html#ixzz0pDI9Rvfp
 

A 3,500-hectare fire continued to consume forest near Berens River First Nation on Thursday. (Province of Manitoba)Fifty-five people from Berens River First Nation were airlifted out of the Manitoba community Wednesday night because of a health hazard posed by billowing smoke from a massive forest fire burning nearby.

A 3,500-hectare fire continued to consume forest near Berens River First Nation on Thursday.

Of 136 forest fires currently burning in the province, the one 24 kilometres northeast of the reserve is the largest at 3,500 hectares, fire officials said.

About 80 firefighters are battling the fire, and the province is using water bombers and other aircraft to try and contain it.

Fire officials said they believe a person set the fire but can’t say yet whether they did so intentionally.

People living on the reserve were forced out largely because the smoke was so thick it presented a health hazard for people with respiratory problems.

Three planes were contracted to airlift them to Winnipeg, about 270 kilometres southwest of the reserve.

Rene McKay told CBC News he’s lived on the reserve all his life and has never seen such heavy smoke.

“Never — not that close anyway. It was quite heavy, McKay said.

Officials said the fire poses no threat to homes or other buildings in the community.

The fire risk is high throughout the area because it has been an extremely dry spring, officials said.
Billowing smoke from the fire forced the province to airlift 55 people from the community on Wednesday night. (Province of Manitoba)
A 3,500-hectare fire continued to consume forest near Berens River First Nation on Thursday.
 

Billowing smoke from the fire forced the province to airlift 55 people from the community on Wednesday night. (Province of Manitoba)

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/05/20/man-berens-river-forest-fire.html#ixzz0pDIsVG00
 


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