Forest fire smoke forces about 200 evacuees out of 2 Manitoba First Nations

Billowing smoke from forest fires has forced community members to flee from twoFirst Nations in southeastern Manitoba.

Evacuations are currently underway in Little Grand Rapids First Nationand will soon begin in Pauingassi First Nation for people facing thehighest health risks due to smoke from nearby wildfires in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario.

Babies and people with respiratory conditions started flyingout of the remote Manitoba community of Little Grand Rapids First Nation on Saturday night, the chief of the community said.

"I'm worried about the smoke, it's really thick. I have to wear a mask," Chief Raymond Keepersaid.

A spokesperson for Canadian Red Cross said upwards of 200evacuees will be displaced from their homes in the two First Nations to stay at hotels in Winnipeg.

Little Grand Rapids First Nation

A maximum of 152 evacuees will be flown out ofLittle Grand Rapids. Of those, 75 are classified as top priority.

The first aircraft into the fly-in community arrived Saturday evening.The First Nation has a shorter airstrip,so evacuations are taking placeusing a type of Dash plane, which is a smaller aircraft that hasspace to carry 20 people.

Oneflight from Little Grand Rapids arrived in Winnipeg last night and twomore are en route right now, the Red Cross said.

Names of those under evacuation ordersare being announced on the local radio station, Keepersaid. According to the federal government, a total of 1193 people live on the reserve.

The community, located about 265kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, is blanketed by smoke from nearby forest fires. It and many other southeastern Manitoba communities includingPauingassi werethe subjects of a special Environment Canada air quality statementissued around noon CT Saturday.

• Wildfire smoke causing poor air quality in southeastern Manitoba, Environment Canada says

"There's fires all around us, no matter which way the wind is blowing," said Keeper. "They're not small fires, either."

The community, along with another nearby First Nation, wasevacuated in May 2018 due to wildfires.

• Evacuations from fire-threatened Little Grand Rapids complete: Red Cross

"This time, we're not taking chances," Keeper said.

Pauingassi First Nation

Another 50 people could potentiallyflee fromPauingassi, which is about 280 kilometres north of Winnipeg. That evacuation order went into effect shortly before noon on Sunday.

The federal government's website indicates the total population on the reserve is560. Neither remote community has road access.

An email statement from the Manitoba government saysthe Red Cross is "managing limited precautionary health-related evacuations" on behalf of the First Nationand Indigenous Services Canada, which is the federal department responsible for overseeing Indigenous and Northern Affairs.

"It's a very challenging time for the evacuees,"a spokesperson forthe Red Crosssaid in an interview.

Evacuation concerns

Red Cross representative Michelle Palansky said evacuees told her they were struggling during mass evacuations from last year's wildfires, when hundreds of people were forced from fire-threatened communities in Manitoba.

"It was a very stressful situation, really challenging because they've left their homes, and they're unsure about the security of their homes, and they're in a strange place,"Palansky said.

When they arrive inWinnipeg, evacuees are registered before beingassigned and transported to hotel rooms, thenarrangements for food and clothing are made. For many, the trip might be their first to the city.

Red Cross helps evacuees get set up during the difficultprocess. Relief expenses will be paid for by the federal government, Red Cross said in a press release issued Sunday afternoon.

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Evacuations from those two isolated communities are expected to be completed today.

In a recent fire update, the province said there were 25 active fires burning across the Manitoba.

• Eastern Manitoba First Nations evacuated as huge fire approaches

It is unknown how long these evacuees will be displaced from their homes.

"It's going to depend on many things, including the weather,"Palansky said, describing it as a "wait-and-see" situation.

Canadian Red Cross saysanyone who wants to help can contactvolunteer@redcross.ca or call 1-844-818-2155.