Manitoba says fire growing, but rain is forecast and no structures have burned

THE PAS, Man. – The Manitoba government says strong winds have fanned a fire that’s burned at the edge of two northern communities, but no structures have burned so far and there’s rain in the forecast.

The province says in a tweet that the fire near Easterville and the Chemawawin First Nation grew to 6.5 square kilometres on Saturday, up from the 3.5 square kilometres it was estimated to be the previous day.

Evacuation orders remain in effect for both communities, affecting about 2,000 people.

Crews had been holding the flames at the edge of the communities on Friday.

Paul White, a spokesman for the province’s emergency measures organization, says in an email the fire has now been moving towards a lake.

White also says sprinkler kits are also in place to protect at-risk properties.