Forest firefighters battling two wildfires near White River

WHITE RIVER -- Over the weekend, two active wildfires posed some concern for White River as Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry firefighters battled the blazes.

On May 26, a wildfire ignited approximately 8.3 kilometres west of White River near Crocker’s Lake, and on May 27, a wildfire broke out 12.7 kilometres southeast of the town near Kakakiwibik Esker Conservation Reserve.

Currently, the Cocker’s Lake fire is a 105-hectare while the Kakakiwibik Esker Conservation Reserve fire is 800 hectares. The ministry has 11 suppression crews between both fires with a heavy helicopter water bombing both areas.

Both wildfires are not under control at this time, according to the ministry.

“MNRF is still doing their job. We are not really too involved yet. We just offered our community support to them. Whatever they need, come let us know. So, things are going well,” said White River Mayor Tara Anderson Hart

Hart advises that weather conditions have been favourable as the fires are not currently coming toward the town. Hart stated that the larger fire to the southeast is moving northeast.

“There is no current threat to the community at all. The smoke is even less today. There is only a small amount around town,” said Hart.

The ministry also confirmed that there are no threats to any infrastructure.

“MNRF was very optimistic when we talked to them this morning for our most current update, and they said unless something substantial changes in the weather or the wind that they expect today to be pretty much like yesterday,” said Hart.  

The municipality has officially implemented a fire ban, with the notice posted to their Facebook page Monday morning.

"We’ve been requesting that people don’t have open fires and that they be mindful of other possible sources of ignition," Hart said. "The bush is extremely dry right now, so we are asking people to be responsible and mindful.”