Flin Flon, Lynn Lake evacuees set to return home as wildfire threat eases
CBC
Thousands of wildfire evacuees are set to return to their homes in northwestern Manitoba in the coming days, as Lynn Lake lifts its evacuation order and Flin Flon moves to rescind its own.
Flin Flon Deputy Mayor Alison Dallas-Funk announced on a video on social media Thursday afternoon the city expects to begin re-entry Wednesday at 9 a.m., allowing about 5,100 people who escaped what's currently the largest wildfire in the province just over three weeks ago.
The city said mayor and council will meet Monday to officially rescind the evacuation order, so long as there's no unexpected fire behaviour and there's no hitches to the re-entry plan.
"We've made our dates and our final decision on our re-entry plan based on the fire activity and behaviour as of late," Dallas-Funk said in the video, adding that the city expects to have all essential services staffed and fully functioning this weekend.
"We're really glad to give our community this information, but please [be advised] that not everything will be up and running 100 per cent and we need to be patient about that."
Dallas-Funk said the city will have limited health-care services and people who require X-rays or medical care such as dialysis should consider delaying their return.
She said grocery stores will also lack supplies. Some people will be allowed back into the community starting Friday to reopen "secondary support businesses" like hardware and clothing stores, restaurants as well as automotive and shipping services.
"Hydro is fully functioning. So is our cell communication," Dallas-Funk said. "We will have pharmacy here. We do have gas station."
The fire near Flin Flon was about 370,780 hectares as of the province's latest fire bulletin.
A fire about 10 kilometres from Bakers Narrows Provincial Park south of the city was approximately 7,200 hectares and was also out of control.
"Please be careful [Wednesday], the highways are going to be extremely busy. Also please bring some essentials with you if you can," Dallas-Funk said.
Earlier Thursday night, the town of Lynn Lake announced in another Facebook post it was lifting its own order.
The town said in a Facebook post that residents can return home as of Friday at 8 a.m.
Buses are being arranged for those who need assistance, and town officials will be in contact with those individuals, according to the Facebook post.
British Columbia Premier David Eby says Alberta separatists meeting with the U.S. administration for financial backing is an act of "treason" and it's an issue he'll raise as the premiers gather with the prime minister in Ottawa on Thursday.
A London economist is applauding Mayor Josh Morgan's plan to absorb development fees for homeowners, but some city politicians say they have questions about who will benefit from the program before they agree to support it.
Videos making false claims about Canada's immigration policies are popping up on TikTok and Instagram in an attempt to scam travellers coming to FIFA World Cup matches this summer, according to immigration and anti-fraud experts.
Alberta broke housing construction records in 2025 and led the country in housing starts per capita — a massive upswing in homebuilding that comes after a period of similarly massive population growth.
Social services advocates in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., are voicing their concerns over the number of people who are released from jail and going straight into homelessness.
As the provincial government continues its efforts to spur more housing development in Nova Scotia, MLAs on a legislative committee heard Wednesday that data on vacancy rates for various segments of housing do not exist.
A Miramichi man is questioning why the Liberal MLA who represents him in the New Brunswick Legislature has blocked him from his Facebook page.
The Cree Nation of Mistissini, located in the James Bay region of Quebec, is under a lockdown notice Thursday morning following a fatal shooting in the community.
The City of Winnipeg is launching a pilot project that could see some derelict and vacant properties developed into affordable homes for people to buy.
The latest data shows Saskatchewan continues to lead the country in the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in custody.
Rob Lantz says he wants to "dream big," and one of those dreams appears to be a tunnel connecting Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's fate will be put to delegates at the party's convention in Calgary on Friday. While those around him are confident he can avoid being turfed, the leader's loyalists are doing all they can to ensure he easily clears this must-win vote.
Longtime fugitive Ryan Wedding sought a court order to prevent his arrest in Mexico's Sinaloa state nearly a year before he was finally taken into U.S. custody last week, according to legal records obtained by CBC News.