Wildfires in northern Manitoba have forced thousands of residents to evacuate to Winnipeg and other centres. The Province is preparing large-scale shelter operations to accommodate up to 40,000 evacuees.
🦺 The Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC) has received confirmation that Manitoba has formally requested federal assistance for the SARVAC–Humanitarian Workforce. Our teams are preparing to support shelter setup and staffing, food services, transportation, and first aid. While no formal deployment has been initiated yet, we are working closely with Public Safety Canada, the Province of Manitoba, the Provincial Association (SARMAN Volunteer Association), and partner NGOs to determine how best SARVAC can provide national-level support.
Winnipeg Search and Rescue (WINSAR) continues to assist the Canadian Red Cross with the setup and staffing of evacuation centres as needed. With more evacuees expected to arrive in Winnipeg, their team has been helping to prepare the Winnipeg Convention Centre. Together with the Canadian Red Cross and American Red Cross, they are working to ensure those displaced by the fires have a safe and welcoming place to rest.
We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.