BR Mba Forest Fire – CP

Source: The Canadian Press – Broadcast wire
Sep 8, 2017 

WINNIPEG – Indigenous leaders are calling on the Manitoba government to declare a state of emergency and free up more hotel rooms for people who have fled northern forest fires.

Chief Dino Flett of Garden Hill First Nation says evacuees who are sleeping in rows of cots have been getting sick while waiting for hotel space.

But Premier Brian Pallister says declaring a state of emergency is up to the federal government, which has responsibility for First Nations communities.

A reported mumps outbreak at one shelter prompted the Canadian Football League Winnipeg Blue Bombers to postpone a planned visit by some evacuees to the team’s stadium.

More than four thousand people from three First Nations were forced out of their homes last week.

Almost half of the evacuees were put up initially in two large shelters inside a soccer facility and at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

However, the Canadian Red Cross says they have closed down the convention centre shelter because hotel rooms are becoming available.

Only 300 people were still at the soccer facility as of yesterday.

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(The Canadian Press)

INDEX: HUMAN INTEREST NATIONAL DISASTER POLITICS