A state of emergency was declared in Manitoba on Wednesday as wildfires swept through parts of central and western Canada, forcing the evacuation of more than 17,000 people, including entire communities in northern and eastern regions of the province.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced the evacuation order at a news conference, calling it “the largest evacuation in many Manitobans’ living memory.” He stressed the need for rapid action and cooperation across all levels of government to manage the unfolding crisis.

FILE PHOTO: Smoke rises from wildfire WE023 near Wanless, Manitoba, Canada May 27, 2025. Manitoba Government/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY/File Photo

“This will require significant resources and co-operation,” Kinew said, as federal armed forces arrived to assist in transporting evacuees. The city of Flin Flon, among the hardest hit, is one of several communities being cleared. Many displaced residents are being temporarily sheltered at community centers and soccer fields in Winnipeg and other urban areas.

“We are dealing with a dynamic and rapidly evolving emergency,” said Premier Kinew. “Our priority is to protect lives and ensure that every Manitoban who needs help receives it.”

Fires Disrupt Oil Operations in Alberta

The wildfire emergency has also spread to Alberta, where flames are threatening key oil-producing regions. Several oil and gas companies have begun scaling back operations as a precaution.

Cenovus Energy confirmed it was reducing staff at its Foster Creek facility in northern Alberta, near the Bonnyville–Cold Lake area, due to a nearby wildfire. The blaze, spanning 2,900 hectares (approximately 11.2 square miles), is burning near Chipewyan Lake—roughly 130 km west of Fort McMurray, a central hub for Canada’s oil sands industry.

Smoke rises from the WE017 wildfire, which has prompted a state of emergency and evacuation of Sherridon, Manitoba, Canada May 27, 2025. Manitoba Government/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY

Although officials stated there was no immediate danger to Chipewyan Lake as of Wednesday, residents have been placed on a one-hour evacuation notice amid fears that wind shifts could push the fire closer.

A second major fire, roughly 1,600 hectares in size, is burning out of control about 7 kilometers north of Swan Hills in Alberta’s north. The town’s approximately 1,200 residents were ordered to evacuate Monday evening. Aspenleaf Energy, an oil and gas producer operating in the region, has suspended operations and temporarily shut in around 4,000 barrels per day of oil equivalent production.