Lac du Bonnet Wildfire Force Nearly 1,000 Evacuations in Eastern Manitoba’s

Lac du Bonnet Wildfire Sparks Chaos in Eastern Manitoba “Very Dark Day”

The Lac du Bonnet wildfire, erupting with terrifying speed on Tuesday, has forced nearly 1,000 residents and cottagers to flee their homes in eastern Manitoba. Dubbed a “very dark day” by local officials, the blaze has caused significant structural damage, disrupted power networks, and triggered a multi-agency emergency response.

Evacuations Expand as Winds Shift Dangerously

“We’re still not out of the woods,” warned Loren Schinkel, reeve of the Rural Municipality (RM) of Lac du Bonnet, as shifting northerly winds threatened to push flames back toward critical infrastructure like Highway 313. Evacuation orders were extended seven times in 24 hours, displacing residents from subdivisions like Wendigo Beach, Bonnet Oaks South, and Cape Coppermine.

The Lac du Bonnet wildfire has already caused “significant loss of structures” in Wendigo Beach, though full damage assessments are ongoing. Schinkel praised frontline crews and RCMP officers for their tireless efforts to protect lives and property, even as the fire “jumped” unpredictably through dry terrain 18.

Human Stories Amid the Flames

For evacuees like Stephan Bouderlique, the crisis hit without warning. “All I had was my clothes on my back,” he said after discovering his home near Highways 313 and 315 was in an evacuation zone. Bouderlique and his wife now monitor their property via security cameras from a hotel in Selkirk, praying winds don’t reignite the threat.

Others, like cottage owners in the Whiteshell Provincial Park, face similar uncertainty. Mandatory evacuations there and in Pointe du Bois reflect the wildfire’s sprawling impact, with 22 other fires burning across Manitoba Canada.

Power Outages and Infrastructure Damage

The Lac du Bonnet wildfire has crippled Manitoba Hydro’s operations, forcing the shutdown of Slave Falls. and Pointe du Bois generating stations. While the utility insists customer power won’t be affected, over 1,500 households remain without electricity due to burned poles and downed lines.

Restoring power is just one hurdle. RCMP have set up roadblocks on Highway 313, allowing only emergency personnel through, while a 12-member search and rescue team patrols evacuated zones to prevent looting.

Evacuation Zones: Where the Danger Lies

Mandatory evacuation orders cover:

All subdivisions south of Highway 313 (Urban Road, Belluk Road, Lee Dale Estates).

Wendigo Road and adjoining areas up to Grausdin Point.

Highway 433 and Cape Coppermine Road, including all adjacent subdivisions.

North and west sides of Highway 313 toward the RM of Alexander.

Evacuees must register at the Lac du Bonnet Community Hall or call 204-345-2860.

A Province Under Siege

The Lac du Bonnet wildfire is part of a broader crisis: 22 active fires scorch Manitoba, including threats to Nopiming and Whiteshell parks. Ontario has lent water bombers to assist, while Premier Wab Kinew thanked frontline workers for “risking their lives”.

Cooler temperatures offer fleeting hope, but Schinkel stressed: “Property can be replaced. Lives can’t” a plea for residents to heed evacuation orders.