The Manitoba government has already warned widespread dry conditions might lead to a higher wildfire danger across the province in the coming months.

Manitoba

Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently amid rising sea-levels and increasing temperatures.

Climate Crisis

Dry winter conditions across Canada have sparked concerns about the potential for an intense fire season. The government of Manitoba has issued warnings about widespread dry conditions that could lead to increased wildfire danger in the province over the coming months. This anticipation comes as the region and the broader country grapple with the consequences of below-average precipitation levels during the colder months.



Dry winter sparks concerns for intense fire season across Canada

It's a scene Pimicicumac Cree Nation Chief David Monius doesn't want to repeat. So that was scary. It was very frightening for most people. 7,000 people given just three hours last May to pack up essentials and leave through a raging wildfire in the late evening. Some driving through the night to escape smoke and flames. And you know you feel a certain sense of helplessness. After a drier than normal winter, wildfires are something he wants the province and federal government to start preparing for now. The Manitoba government has already warned widespread dry conditions may lead to a higher wildfire danger across the province in the coming months. Monius says climate change has only heightened his concern. Climate change has really affected the weather conditions. It's a lot warmer. We had a real dry winter this year and so therefore there's not hardly any precipitation of snow. That has Monius and other leaders of remote and northern Manitoba communities calling for equipment and people to be brought in and ready to go. The efforts to subvert any tragedy have to be in place now, not in June. Walter Wastasekut is Grand Chief of the Kuwaitan Tribal Council which represents 11 remote First Nations. He has a message for Premier Wap Kanu and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It means help us. The 11 nations that I represent are the most isolated and remote communities in this province. Nine of them have no access to the outside world whatsoever. He wants to see more all-weather roads built in northern Manitoba so people aren't forced to evacuate by air or boat. Monius says that is also crucial but a long-term step saying climate change is already impacting communities like his. He doesn't think the province is taking the wildfire threat as seriously as it should. To me it's dangerous. To them it doesn't seem to be as dangerous but they know there are fires but at the same time we know our people need to be protected. He'd like to see more proactive monitoring for wildfires so communities like his have more warning. If they have to pack up and leave. Riley Laytrek, CBC News, Winnipeg.

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Arizona

Arizona governor signs bill repealing 1864 abortion ban

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Washington

Biden breaks silence on protests at University Campuses

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New York

More than 1,000 student protesters arrested across U.S.

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London

Voters head to polls in last test for U.K.'s Sunak

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Zaporizhzhia

Ukraine Invasion

U.S. accuses Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine

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Council of the City of Sydney

Grave fears for brothers missing on Mexico surf trip

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Government hints at further tax incentives in Budget

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Bogotá

Israel-Gaza War

Colombia ends diplomatic relations with Israel

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Jerusalem

Blinken pushes for sustained aid into Gaza during Israel trip

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Tbilisi

Thousands protest against Georgia's 'foreign influence' bill

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Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah 'with or without' ceasefire deal

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Qantas app data breach exposes customer data

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The Hague

ICJ rejects measures over German arms exports to Israel

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Police enter Columbia University, arrest protesters

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King Charles returns to public duties, visits cancer center

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Hainault

Teenage boy killed in London sword attack

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Canberra

Brittany Higgins fails in bid to delay defamation trial

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Buenos Aires

Argentina's Milei slashes 24,000 government jobs

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Odesa

Russian missile attack kills five in Ukraine's Odesa

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Edinburgh

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf quits

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Lake Macquarie

Teenager faces court over murder of 10-year-old sister

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Columbia University suspends pro-Palestinian protesters

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Kharkiv

U.N. experts say North Korea missile landed in Kharkiv

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Madrid

Pedro Sanchez stays on as Spain's prime minister

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Riyadh

U.S., U.K. urge Hamas to accept Israeli truce proposal

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Turin

Protesters call for climate action ahead of G7 meeting in Turin

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Climate Crisis