Parts of Manitoba continue to burn as warm temperatures, high winds and extremely dry conditions make firefighting difficult in many areas.

As of Wednesday, May 23, 2018, there are 166 fires burning across Manitoba with several threatening remote communities.

More than 80 firefighters from Ontario, with 40 more on their way and four water bombers from Quebec have travelled to Manitoba to help with fire suppression.

Vulnerable people in Little Grand Rapids were evacuated after heavy smoke in the area was deemed to be a risk to their health. 60 people were airlifted from the community before conditions became too dangerous for flights to continue. Efforts are being made for 800 more people from the community to be evacuated. In the meantime, a shelter has been set up in the school. There have also been unconfirmed reports that several homes in the community have burned down.

According to Manitoba Sustainable Development, the fire near Little Grand Rapids is about 20,000 hectares and has moved to within 5 kilometres of Pauingassi First Nation so that community is also under evacuation orders.

Ashern also is on an evacuation alert as an 11,000-hectare fire is close to the community.

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