Bunibonibee Cree Nation scrambles to get people out as approaching wildfire threatens 'serious danger': chief

The chief of a northeastern Manitoba First Nation says crews are scrambling to get as many people out as they can before a growing wildfire starts moving toward the community again.

Somewhere around 1,500 or 1,600 people have been flown out of Bunibonibee Cree Nation since evacuations began Wednesday and officials hope to get another 800 people to Winnipeg on Friday, before any shift in the wind could move the out-of-control fire another nine kilometres into the community, Chief Richard Hart said.

"We have to do whatever we can to get as many people out today as possible," Hart said Friday morning. "In our meeting with all the relevant agencies, it was made quite clear to us that we are in serious danger here in the community."

Even if the fire itself doesn't reach Bunibonibee, formerly known as Oxford House, any shift in wind could bring thick smoke that could make it too dangerous for planes to land meaning anyone left would have no way out of the fly-in community.

"And that's why there's a really heightened sense of urgency to get everybody out of here as soon as possible. It's critical," said Hart, who hopes the planes can still fly people out on Saturday.

Hart previously said anywhere from 2,700 to 3,000 people live in Bunibonibee at this time of year.

The smoke is already getting thicker in the community, though a northern wind is helping keep the fire away for now, he said Friday.

While evacuees from Bunibonibee were initially sent to Thompson, Brandon and Winnipeg, Hart said they're now only going to Winnipeg, where an emergency shelter has been set up.

As of the last update from the province's website Wednesday, the fire had grown to 5,747 hectares. No change to its position is expected Friday because of rain overnight.

As of the latest update, there were 74 total fires burning across Manitoba, including 11 listed as out of control.

Grounded plane, language barrier

The evacuation's challenges have included mechanical issues that caused one of the military Hercules planes moving people out of the community to be grounded Thursday night, Hart said.

Some elders have also struggled to communicate once out of Bunibonibee because of a lack of Cree speakers among evacuation crews.

"English is a second language or not even a language for some of the elders, right?" Hart said, and they have to depend on other community members for help.

Bunibonibee member Sheila North said that's something she saw firsthand among evacuees in Winnipeg, where she had to step in to help elders communicate with staff from the Canadian Red Cross.

"There needs to be more people on the ground here that speak the language," said North, who was already in the city when the evacuations happened.

WATCH |CBC's Abby Kuhathasan talks to a Bunibonibee Cree Nation community member:

CBCs Abby Kuhathasan talks to Bunibonibee Cree Nation community member Sheila North

1 month ago

Duration 9:40

Get the latest on CBCNews.ca, the CBC News App, and CBC News Network for breaking news and analysis

North, a former CBC Manitoba journalist, said the evacuations which affected her daughter and young nephew seemed to be called without much notice, which led to "sheer panic" among many in Bunibonibee.

"There was a lot of emotions, a lot of scared people and a lot of uncertainty, because there was such a presence of that fire and that smoke there right in front of them as they were standing waiting for the planes to start arriving," she told CBC's Abby Kuhathasan.

Evacuees fainted

North's daughter, Trisha, said the situation seemed to change hourly and drew a range of reactions from people in her community.

While some scrambled to get out, and others even fainted as they experienced intense heat and emotion while waiting for a plane, some community members wanted to stay out of worry for their homes and livelihoods in Bunibonibee.

"So I felt for everybody and I was really I was concerned for myself, sure, but I was also really concerned for the entire community, all of our family, friends and everybody who lives there," she said.

"I'm just thankful that we're out here safe and that everybody is out here, going to be safe. And I just really hope that the fire can be put out before it touches the community. I think that was all of our biggest concerns."

WATCH |Out-of-control wildfire gets closer to Manitoba First Nation:

Out-of-control wildfire gets closer to Manitoba First Nation

1 month ago

Duration 2:09

Evacuations are underway in Manitobas Bunibonibee Cree Nation as an out-of-control wildfire bears down on the remote fly-in community.

Chief Hart said he's not sure when he plans to leave his community, because he wants to give everyone else a chance to get out first.

"You're kind of trying to be one of the last people to leave. So I'll take my cue from the emergency people that when they say that they're ready to leave, then I guess that's when I would leave, too," he said.

"Hopefully everything will work out. But it's better to be safe than sorry, so we're pulling out all the stops to make sure that everybody's safe, and hopefully we have a community to return to in a short time."

Bunibonibee Cree Nation is about 577 kilometres north of Winnipeg, and about 185 kilometres southeast of Thompson.