Two people were killed by a raging wildfire in Western Canada that forced the evacuation of an entire town but trapped the victims before they could be reached by rescue crews, according to police reports.
The deaths of a man and woman in the province of Manitoba mark a grim start to Canada’s wildfire season. Two years ago, Canada recorded its worst wildfire season on record, resulting in the deaths of eight firefighters but no civilians.
Wab Kinew, the premier of Manitoba, stated at a news conference on Thursday, “The news of this loss of life changes what was an emergency into a tragedy.”
The victims were found in the town of Lac du Bonnet, located northeast of the provincial capital of Winnipeg, which was under a mandatory evacuation at the time of the deaths. Their names have not been released, and officials did not disclose the exact location where they were found.
Ken Lodge, the mayor of Lac du Bonnet, remarked, “People here, I think, are somewhat in shock over the ferocity of the fires and how quickly it all occurred.”
Approximately 1,000 people were evacuated from Lac du Bonnet and surrounding areas as the fire expanded to about 10,000 acres. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Parts of Manitoba have been experiencing an intense heat wave, with temperatures in Winnipeg reaching 37 degrees Celsius (about 99 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, breaking a 125-year record.
Wildfires are currently burning across several provinces but are largely under control. Fires caused by lightning strikes are expected to increase across southern British Columbia and Canada’s prairie region in late spring, fueled by warm and windy conditions, according to a report by federal authorities.
The busiest period of Canada’s fire season typically spans from May to September, although last year was significantly milder compared to 2023. This year, over 6,000 wildfires have occurred nationwide, displacing thousands and burning approximately 37 million acres, an area comparable to the size of England.
Wildfires in Quebec have sent large amounts of smoke into the United States, resulting in an apocalyptic orange hue in the skies and causing poor air quality that led to hospitalizations for breathing issues.
Researchers found that these wildfires were a leading cause of global carbon emissions in 2023.
Currently, about 100 wildfires are burning across Canada, similar to the number at this time last year, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center.
Fire crews are battling five out-of-control fires across Manitoba, although recent rain has provided some relief ahead of a long holiday weekend when many provinces celebrate Queen Victoria’s birthday with firework displays. This year, the need for rain is particularly emphasized, as noted by Premier Kinew, who stated, “We’re asking for rain.”