A major wildfire in central Canada has claimed the lives of two people and forced over 1,000 residents to evacuate, signalling a potentially severe fire season ahead, authorities warned on Wednesday.
The victims were found in Lac-du-Bonnet, a small community in the central province of Manitoba, which is currently battling intense heat, dry conditions, and high winds. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed the deaths, marking a rare fatal incident for civilians amid Canada’s increasingly destructive wildfire seasons.
Chris Hastie of the RCMP told reporters that authorities had been aware the individuals were trapped by the fast-moving blaze. However, “due to extreme conditions yesterday afternoon, emergency personnel were not able to reach the location until this morning,” he explained. No further people are currently reported missing.
The deaths come as a blow to the region, with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew expressing condolences, saying he was “deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss of two Manitobans due to the wildfires.”
“This is a truly tragic event. We are a very close-knit community here,” said Lac-du-Bonnet’s municipal head Loren Schinkel. The town, located roughly 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of Winnipeg, is one of several places in Manitoba placed under mandatory evacuation orders in recent days.
Approximately 1,000 residents have had to flee their homes as fires continue to rage in the province. Schinkel noted earlier that strong southerly winds had worsened the fire’s spread, although the situation appeared to stabilise slightly by Wednesday morning.
Manitoba currently has 24 active wildfires, five of which are out of control. One particularly large fire straddling the border with Ontario has already scorched more than 100,000 hectares.
Kristin Hayward of the Manitoba Wildfire Service warned of “very challenging conditions,” citing continued hot and dry weather and persistent strong winds. Her comments came before the fatalities were announced.
Across Canada, there are currently 92 active wildfires, with blazes reported in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. Officials have raised concerns that drought conditions may contribute to a more severe wildfire season than usual, particularly in central and western parts of the country.
Canada has seen an increase in extreme weather events in recent years, a trend scientists attribute to climate change. In 2023, the country endured its worst wildfire season on record, with the only deaths recorded among firefighters—until now.
