Blazes 'so, so close'

Raging forest fires threaten northern towns

By ROSS ROMANIUK, SUN MEDIA

More than 500 firefighters are battling five raging forest blazes in northern Manitoba, while there's no word on when 730 evacuees will be able to return to their homes.

The most dangerous situations are in Norway House, where a blaze has burned perilously close to homes, and in the area of Sherridon, northeast of Flin Flon, where more than 100 firefighters are desperately trying to beat back flames that have nearly lapped at a school and other properties.

"It is so, so close to so many places," Premier Gary Doer said yesterday of the Sherridon fire, after returning to Winnipeg from a flight to see some of the severe blazes that have burned about 35,000 hectares.

"The fire was just right at the doorstep of the school, right at the doorstep of campgrounds -- and just missed a transformer, and was abutting gas tanks at a municipal area for trucks and maintenance."

Crews restored Sherridon's electricity late Saturday night after power had been knocked out when the fire damaged two hydro lines.

A shed, an old cabin and a boat have been destroyed there, though no homes have burned "yet -- touch wood," Doer added, noting the province expects to spend up to $10 million in the next 10 days fighting the fires -- easily surpassing Manitoba Conservation's $14-million budget for the work this year.

BURNING WOOD, MONEY

"We're definitely burning wood and burning money, but the most important part is to protect property and people."

About 100 firefighters have come from Ontario to battle the blazes, and another 30 from Alberta.

Planes from Ontario and Minnesota are taking part with 15 water bombers and 30 helicopters to try to suppress not only the fires in Sherridon and Norway House, but also blazes near St. Theresa Point, Waasagomach and Grand Rapids.

The fire north of Grand Rapids has prompted RCMP to shut down Highway 6 three times in recent days due to a loss of visibility caused by thick smoke. The highway was closed yesterday from Grand Rapids to Ponton.

Following an initial evacuation that saw 2,600 people leave their homes, the 730 remaining away include more than 450 from St. Theresa Point, about 50 from Sherridon and 218 from Waasagomach. Most of the evacuees are at hotels in Winnipeg, Brandon and Portage la Prairie.

Manitoba has had 172 forest fires this spring, above the 20-year average of 154 this time of year and way up from the 88 that had burned by the beginning of June in 2007.

Winnipeg Sun