Crews prepare ahead of Manitoba wildfire season
Global News
Though the cold spring may have caused a delay, wildfire season in Manitoba is near. Provincial crews prepare as usual to take on and contain fires across Manitoba.
As the province enters yet another wildfire season, crews across Manitoba prepare for the usual.
Provincial fire operations manager Cailin Hodder said the season, which normally starts in May, tends to yield significant wildfires. Fires, she said, that are measured not by quantity but by the intensity with which they burn.
There were nearly 200 cases last year. This year’s outlook depends on a number of conditions, according to Hodder, from weather conditions in the summer to moisture levels in the soil.
“We will have our crews ready and trained usually very early (from) May until September,” said Hodder. “We were fortunate this year to have a bit of a wet spring … we’re hopeful that our wildfire season will start later.”
She said there are two ways a wildfire can start: either by people or by natural means. Something small like flicking cigarettes out a car window or leaving an unattended bonfire burning can lead to significant damage.
Many fires, she noted, can are started by lightning, which can often occur in remote areas.
“A wildfire is most significant when it reaches or is starting to head towards a community. Those are the things we look at the most … the intensity of those fires and those conditions throughout the summer,” said Hodder.
It’s hard to predict what communities could be impacted by wildfires, she said, adding that people should be prepared especially if they’re near dense forestry.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
A decision on the future of coal mining in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains is expected within 90 days after a public hearing into the project wrapped up Thursday.
After a long spell of warm, dry weather, an Arctic cold front is forecast to descend over Alberta this weekend — sending temperatures plunging by up to 40 degrees.
While sitting down to watch your favourite television show may seem like a relaxing way to unwind, it also could fuel your appetite, leading to binge eating.
U.S. regulators on Wednesday banned the dye called Red 3 from the nation’s food supply, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk.
A group of global experts is proposing a new way to define and diagnose obesity, reducing the emphasis on the controversial body mass index.
Dave and Barb Enns were killed when a landslide swept over their home in Lions Bay on Dec. 14, 2024.
Tina Bitangcol is a labour and delivery nurse and mom of four who shares her personal and professional knowledge with the 1.5 million followers of her 'Mama Nurse Tina' persona.
Some of the 'TikTok refugees,' as they call themselves, say the TikTok alternative, a Chinese app, is being chosen in protest of the TikTok ban.
Some protein powders, particularly plant-based and chocolate-flavoured varieties, have been found to contain heavy metals like lead and cadmium, according to a recent report.
For four grueling hours, a Winnipeg firefighter, his partner and a friend battled the blaze and choking smoke near Pasadena — even climbing on a roof to hose down a burning house.
Firefighters spent the weekend blocking the explosive growth of fires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people in the Los Angeles area.
A California man whose two cats died after drinking raw milk recalled for bird flu risk says he meant to keep his beloved pets healthy, but his efforts tragically backfired.
As interest in more environmentally-friendly burial options grows, one Ontario company is trying to help cemeteries across the county offer affordable and greener alternatives.
An Ontario public health official says they've detected norovirus among a group of 190 people reporting symptoms of gastroenteritis at the University of Guelph over the last week.
Scientists think that the winter surge of flu and cold activity may be because we spend more time indoors and the cold, dry air may weaken our defenses.
David and Barbara Enss were killed on Dec. 14, 2024, when their home was destroyed by a landslide that spilled across the Sea to Sky Highway and into Howe Sound.
In addition to provinces and territories having to buy COVID-19 vaccines going forward, they will also be responsible for determining the timing of vaccinations.
As wildfires rage across Los Angeles, the smoke billowing into the air carries more than the expected risks of particulate matter and carbon emissions.