The 600 residents of Lynn Lake in northern Manitoba are being told to leave town for the second time this year due to wildfires.
Town officials say a fire is threatening Manitoba Hydro transmission lines and, if those lines are damaged, the community could be without power for a month.
The town is offering transportation for evacuees and a reception centre has been set up in Brandon, about 1,100 kilometres by road to the south.
Town officials also say several other nearby wildfires, including two blazes to the southeast, could cut off travel between Lynn Lake and Thompson.
Manitoba has been experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons in recent years, and about 21,000 people were forced to flee their homes in June.
Manitoba Hydro says flames near Lynn Lake are close to the area's transmission line, and strong winds and high temperatures have added to the problem.
"There are three fingers of a fire moving towards the transmission line that feeds the town of Lynn Lake. As of late last night, the fire was within two kilometres of that line," Manitoba Hydro spokesperson Scott Powell said Friday.
Fire crews are battling the blaze, but if the transmission line is severely damaged, restoring power in the remote area would take time, Powell added.
"Any time we have difficult terrain — swamps, inaccessibility from roads — obviously, restoration takes longer."
The most recent update from the Manitoba government said there were 60 wildfires burning in the province, with 17 of them classified as out of control. The fire near Lynn Lake covered more than 80,000 hectares.
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mike Deal-Pool
