Crews keep battling deadly, out-of-control wildfires in eastern Manitoba [Video]

Fire crews in Manitoba continue to battle out-of-control wildfires, including one in the eastern part of the province, which has revealed the bodies of a couple in the ashes.

In the Manitoba legislature on Thursday, opposition Progressive Conservative legislature member Rick Wowchuk named the victims as Richard and Sue Nowell, who lived in the Rural Municipality of Lac Du Bonnet.

The bodies were found on Wednesday.

The wildfire burning in the municipality, a popular cottage area northeast of Winnipeg, was over four-thousand hectares in size as of midnight Friday.

Wildfires in eastern Manitoba have also forced the province to declare a state of emergency in Whiteshell Provincial Park, and gave people until Thursday evening to evacuate.

The Alberta government says it is sending help to Manitoba to battle the wildfires, with two wildland firefighting crews and support staff expected in the coming days.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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