Manitoba declares provincial state of emergency as 17,000 flee fires in north – SteinbachOnline.com [Video]

Manitoba has declared a provincial state of emergency as dozens of wildfires continue to burn across the province, threatening communities, infrastructure, and natural resources.

An emergency alert issued Tuesday warns of rapidly spreading fires and extreme fire conditions, particularly in northern and eastern Manitoba, where several communities have already been evacuated or placed under evacuation alerts.

Premier Wab Kinew held a press conference on Wednesday evening and said the state of emergency will involve “the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most people’s living memory.” Kinew says around 17,000 will be evacuated from various communities in Northern Manitoba, including the City of Flin Flon.

Kinew says he spoke with Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier today and asked for the assistance of the military, which Carney approved.

The premier says that three northern communities declared evacuation orders within a short time of one another on Wednesday afternoon. He says that …