Devastating forest fires force 17,000 residents to flee from homes

WorldEnvironment
29 May 2025 • 6:47 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • A state of emergency has been declared in Manitoba, Canada, due to fast-moving wildfires, leading to the evacuation of 17,000 people and a request for military support.
  • The complete evacuation of Flin Flon, a city of nearly 5,000 residents near the Saskatchewan border, was ordered after winds shifted, pushing flames dangerously close to the community.
  • Manitoba has reported more than 100 wildfires this year, surpassing the seasonal average, with 22 currently active and fueled by hot, dry conditions.
  • Evacuations have extended into Saskatchewan, with the town of Creighton also ordering residents to leave, and emergency shelters have been set up in nearby cities to accommodate evacuees.
  • Nearly 200,000 hectares of land have burned this year, triple the five-year annual average, with officials linking the increasing intensity and frequency of wildfires to climate change.

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