WINNIPEG—Many of the 3,700 people fleeing northern Manitoba forest fires were still waiting to fly south on Thursday, more than 24 hours after they left their homes on a journey made complicated by a lack of transportation. There is some food being provided by the local (grocery) stores.”All 2,000 residents of Wasagamack had to leave Tuesday as a large forest fire came within 800 metres of the community. Because there is no airstrip, people took turns piling into boats in small groups for a 20-minute journey across a section of Island Lake to St. Theresa Point. Smoke from the blaze also forced out people with health problems from the St. Theresa Point and Garden Hill reserves. Small charter planes, that can carry between nine and 45 people, began ferrying people south to Brandon and Winnipeg on Wednesday, but a backlog persisted.

Source: thestar August 31, 2017 21:22 UTC