Note: This story is a live file and will be updated as new information arrives. This story was last updated at 10 p.m. Monday.
Staff members from The Reminder have evacuated Flin Flon, but will keep writing updates as long as possible during the emergency. If you have questions or concerns you would like us to chase or add here about the fire, evacuations or anything else, please notify us at [email protected].
Anyone seeking to register with the Red Cross or to donate to their campaign can do so at https://www.redcross.ca/2025manitobawildfires or 1-800-863-6582.
The wind blew fire away from Flin Flon and Creighton overnight and early Monday, but Denare Beach did not have the same luck. That same eastward wind blew the Wolf fire toward the village, potentially putting it in danger.
The area is now in a full evacuation as of Monday afternoon, with the blaze heading east, jumping across part of the lake and burning onto Missi Island, approaching the village according to NASA/FIRMS and Natural Resources Canada data. An evacuation order was already in effect for the area, but any and all remaining residents have been told to get out.
Sources on the ground say the situation has deteriorated quickly in the last 24 hours for Denare Beach - the fire has come so close that firefighters on the ground have been told to leave the community after laying down water and fire-resistant foam. Air tankers and helicopters have brought in to attack the blaze from the air.
Sprinklers and asset protection have been set up within the community as of early Monday afternoon.
"The Wolf fire west of Amisk Lake has grown over the last 24 hours. Fire crews and equipment are currently securing Denare Beach," reads the latest update by the Northern Village of Denare Beach, issued Monday morning.
"Updates will be provided as the information becomes available."
A second update, announced at 4:30 p.m. local time, confirmed that fire crews needed to leave the area.
"Due to intense wind conditions and the growth of the Wolf fire, all remaining essential staff, volunteer fire departments and additional help have evacuated the Northern Village of Denare Beach," reads the second update.
"Their safety is of the utmost importance at this time. We will provide further updates when it is possible and safe to do so."
The Wolf fire, which started by the western shore of Amisk Lake along the Sturgeon-Weir River, first burned to the west toward Foran Mining's McIlvenna Bay mine, but has since grown to both the north and the east, jumping over the Hanson Lake Road to the north and making the jump to Missi Island overnight Monday.
Missi Island is the biggest island within Amisk Lake, taking up most of the lake's northern area. The island connects the lake's west and east shore - at its closest point, the island is about three kilometres from Denare Beach, with several other islands and inlets running between the community and island.
While exact numbers are not yet known, the fire is believed to have burned several structures within the community. Which neighbourhoods or streets have been most affected are not yet known - the Village has not yet officially confirmed any structure losses.
According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), equipment, personnel and other resources to fight northern Saskatchewan fires have come in from Alaska, British Columbia, New Brunswick, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec - it is unknown which of those extra resources are being used on fires near Flin Flon.
SPSA protest
Meanwhile in Saskatoon, a number of northern Saskatchewan residents protested for more action by the Saskatchewan government and SPSA to battle fires in the region and take better care of evacuees.
About 40 northern residents met outside the rRemai mModern Art Gallery in Saskatoon Monday morning, which was supposed to be the site of a national first ministers meeting, including provincial premiers like Saskatchewan's Scott Moe and Prime Minister Mark Carney. The leaders and premiers didn't end up coming to the gallery, meeting instead at TCU Place about four blocks north.
"Evacuees who came to Saskatchewan, whether they are residents of Saskatchewan or Manitoba, are being turned away at all places for assistance and many are struggling with accommodations and material support for food," said Courtney Gieg to The Reminder - Gieg, who is from the Flin Flon area, was one of the protesters in Saskatoon Monday.
"We are being told there is only support if we go to Weyburn. This announcement about the SPSA helping only if evacuees go to Weyburn came four days after the evacuation."
The protesters did not get a chance to meet with either Moe or Carney, but did hold interviews with local media and television stations.
The Town of Creighton issued statements Monday to attempt to help find displaced northern people help.
"You have to evacuate to Weyburn or, if you have a camper, to Hudson Bay Regional Park. Then Weyburn hotel and meals and supplies," reads a Monday morning announcement from the Town of Creighton.
"If you're at Hudson Bay, you will have to text 1-306-221-7648 to register for food from the Co-op in Hudson Bay. If you are anywhere else, you do not qualify for supports from the SPSA. Check with your house insurance - you may have coverage."
Gieg said she felt Saskatchewan's supports for evacuees have been far behind Manitoba - the province has been able to set up multiple congregate shelters and accommodations for people fleeing fires, but Saskatchewan has had relatively few.
"I see the Manitoba has been able to set up multiple different evacuees centres throughout the province so I can’t for the life of me understand why SPSA can’t," she said.
Meanwhile, more northern Saskatchewan communities have been forced to issue evacuation orders due to nearby fires, each around La Ronge - Wadin Bay, English Bay, the Nemeiben Lake subdivision and the Sucker River reserve.
Flin Flon
Meanwhile, the fires near Flin Flon and Sherridon - the Club/WE024 and WE017 fires - have now burned into each other, forming one fire that is now a whopping 175,000 hectares in total size, according to Natural Resources Canada. Despite the new growth and merger between the two fires, Flin Flon and Creighton are still intact - no structures have been burned in either community as of Monday morning.
"Things went well yesterday despite the strong winds: there are no structure fires in Flin Flon, and no additional structure fires in the Bakers Narrows area," reads a City of Flin Flon statement issued Monday morning.
"Flin Flon is holding strong and we are continuing to battle the fire."
Recent hotspots reported with the fire have been found mostly in the fire's northern areas near Mari Lake on the provincial border, with further growth reported between Wabishkok Lake and parts of Kisseynew Lake. New hotspots with the Sherridon fire have been reported climbing north, approaching Pukatawagan, while another arm of the fire has stretched northeast toward Guthrie Lake and Burntwood Lake.
A boil water advisory was called by the Town of Creighton for anyone still staying in the community around noon Monday.
Highway 6 fire
Meanwhile, another fire, this one reported near Grand Rapids, is threatening to shut off northern Manitoba's last road link to the outside world.
The fire, reported just north of the community along Highway 6, was first reported June 1. The fire has hit a size of 100 hectares in total and is considered "out of control" by both Natural Resources Canada and Manitoba Wildfier Services. As of Monday afternoon, the road is still open for traffic. The other main route out of the north, Highway 10, is closed due to another out-of-control fire near the Sturgeon Landing turnoff - that fire has burned 3,800 hectares of land and jumped the highway - it is still considered to be "out of control".
As of 3 p.m. Monday afternoon, Manitoba 511's provincial highway map still listed Highway 6 as open, but cautioned that smoke in the area could lead to poor visibility.
The Hanson Lake Road still remains closed, due to the Wolf fire, the Club/WE024 fire and the Shoe fire, which has burned more than 400,000 hectares of forest since being first found almost a month ago.
