If you’re planning on hitting the trails or spending some time in Manitoba’s beautiful parks, there’s some important news you should know. As of May 13, 2025, wildfires are making a big impact across the province, and several provincial parks have been closed for safety reasons. The province has declared a state of local emergency, and there are evacuation orders in place for certain areas. Here's what you need to be aware of:

🚨 Parks Affected by Wildfires

Here are some of the parks you won’t be able to visit at the moment:

• Nopiming Provincial Park
  The southern part of the park, including Bird, Booster, Davidson, and Flanders lakes, is under an evacuation order. The northern section, which includes Long and Beresford lakes, is also affected. For everyone's safety, these areas will remain closed until things improve.

• Wallace Lake Provincial Park

• South Atikaki Provincial Park

• Manigotagan River Provincial Park
  Like the others, these parks are closed for now, and they’re not reopening until conditions change for the better.

• Whiteshell Provincial Park
  For those who love backcountry adventures, take note: several trails, water routes, and campsites are closed, including:

  • Mantario Trail

  • Whiteshell River Self-guiding Trail

  • Whiteshell River and Mantario Water Routes from Caddy Lake to Lone Island Lake
    These areas are off-limits for now to keep everyone safe while the fires are still a concern.

🔥 Fire and Travel Restrictions

In addition to park closures, there are some travel restrictions in place. The Manitoba Wildfire Service has put a Level 1 fire and travel ban on certain parts of the province. Here's what that means:

• No open fires between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Only fires in approved pits are allowed outside these hours).

• No motorized backcountry travel (like ATVs) unless you’ve been given a travel permit.

• All burn permits are canceled until further notice.

If you’re in an affected area, be sure to follow these rules to avoid fines and to help prevent the spread of fire.

🛑 Safety First: Evacuation Orders

If you're in one of the affected areas, it’s really important to follow the evacuation orders. Don’t try to stick around, and don’t go back until it’s clear. Also, if you see drones or other unauthorized aircraft flying over wildfire zones, don’t hesitate to report them. They can really interfere with firefighting efforts, and the last thing we need is anything making it harder to get the fire under control.

📍 Stay Informed

To stay up to date on the situation, check out the official Manitoba Wildfire Information site: gov.mb.ca

And if you spot a wildfire, don’t wait—call the Manitoba Wildfire Service at 1-800-782-0076.

💡 Tips for Staying Safe

• Keep an eye on air quality: The smoke from wildfires can make the air pretty dangerous to breathe. Stay updated on air quality reports, and if the smoke’s heavy, it’s best to stay inside as much as possible.

• Pack an emergency kit: It’s always a good idea to be ready in case you need to evacuate. Make sure you have water, snacks, meds, and anything else you might need in a hurry.

• Follow the rules: It might be a hassle, but following evacuation orders and fire restrictions is all about keeping everyone safe. Let’s do our part to help out!

I know it’s frustrating when wildfires affect the places we love, but it’s really important to stay safe and give the firefighters a chance to work without any extra obstacles. Stay informed, stay safe, and let’s hope the conditions improve soon so we can all get back out into those beautiful parks.