Leaders seek better plans for wildfires

On Chief David Monias’s wish list: a water bomber, more hoses and an easier path for residents to become firefighters.

Approximately 8,000 Pimicikamak Cree Nation residents had to evacuate because of wildfires last year. Although Monias isn’t expecting anything close to last summer’s destruction — there’s less forest to burn — he’s feeling under-resourced for what could occur.

“There’s a lot of lessons learned from last year,” Monias said. “We could’ve done a better job… (defending) the fires.”

He’s seeking better forest fire prevention and earlier attacks on fires that aren’t yet considered threats.

One blaze that wasn’t considered dangerous at first became a massive problem last year, he said.

“I’m not very confident that the government of Manitoba is ready for this,” he said. “They have their policies. Unless they change… they won’t be able to address all the early fires to be put out.”

Allowing local residents to assist with wildfire suppression and boosting resources available in northern communities — for Pimicikamak, that means pumps and hoses — is crucial, Monias said.

He’s met with the federal and provincial governments and the Red Cross over the past few months. Conversations about improving safety continue, he said.

Manitoba faced its worst wildfire season in three decades last year. About 33,000 people were displaced; the disaster cost the province at least $370 million more than expected.

Twenty-nine cottages were lost in Lynn Lake last year. Mayor Brandon Dulewich called the province “a little ill-equipped” to handle the situation.

At one point, there were more than 100 fires burning simultaneously.

“If we had the ability to fight the fires when they started, I think they never would’ve gotten as bad as they did,” Dulewich said. “Looking at the years to come, with the drier conditions and what we’re predicting for temperatures and precipitation, it looks like fires are something that (are) going to be more common.

“As a province, I think we need to do a better job at getting more assets and getting more prepared.”

Manitoba has increased its conservation and wildfire services budget by five per cent year-over-year, to $82.7 million, a provincial spokesperson noted.

The 2026-27 budget includes $1.2 million for an additional 19 firefighters, $1 million for 15 new emergency management organization employees and $459,000 for four conservation officers. Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie said nearly 300 people — largely on First Nations — have been trained as emergency firefighters.

Many were taught “in real time” last summer, Bushie said, adding the government plans to train more Manitobans.

O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation Chief Shirley Ducharme said she’s worried about the spring and summer to come after last year’s emergency. Approximately 400 residents of the First Nation near South Indian Lake were forced to evacuate.

“There’s got to be a lot of changes to when our people are evacuated,” Ducharme said. “There’s a lot of concerns of how dangerous it was for our young adults, and how easy exposure (is) to addictions (in larger centres in southern Manitoba).”

She said she has had meetings with the provincial government, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak. She plans to attend a virtual session conducted by emergency measures next month.

Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan questioned the government’s timeline for putting new wildfire-fighting measures in place. Budget 2026 includes $1.1 million for aerial firefighting services. Three new water bombers have been ordered; the first is expected to be delivered in 2031.

The budget also includes a new fire base in the Thompson area.

“All the stuff they talk about doing and building is great — in years (that) it’s going to take down the road,” Khan said. “People need answers today.”

Khan also pointed to an emergency expenditure budget of $50 million, which he called too low.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union applauded the money earmarked for new firefighters. However, recruits often leave to go to other provinces, where they’ll make more money, union president Kyle Ross said. The MGEU is pushing for higher wages.

Staffing shortages mean it’s unlikely the city will be able to spare any firefighters to fight blazes elsewhere, United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg president Nick Kasper said. That was the case last summer.

“For our members, it was particularly challenging to watch from the sidelines, wanting to help,” Kasper said, noting that some of his members volunteered in northern communities during their vacation time.

Kelvin Toews, president of the Manitoba Association of Fire Chiefs, said help from some municipal departments will be available, as it was last year.

“The Manitoba fire service is ready,” Toews wrote in a statement.

The spring melt plays a “significant factor” in soil moisture, one factor that determines how the wildfire season will unfold, a provincial government spokesperson said.

Environment and Climate Change Canada is tracking slightly higher than normal precipitation for April before dropping in May, said Jesse Wagar, a warning preparedness meteorologist.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com