Media Information Update : Manitoba and Saskatchewan Wildfires

Press Release

July 07, 2025

In this issue:

• New Evacuations Manitoba Wildfires
• Registration numbers
• Assistance provided
• Donation updates
• Preparedness
• Fraud Alert
• Useful resources for people impacted by wildfires

Manitoba Wildfires

On behalf of the Province of Manitoba, and through a standing agreement with Indigenous Services Canada, the Canadian Red Cross is supporting people and communities impacted by evacuations in Manitoba.

• On July 4 and 5, the communities of Lynn Lake and Marcel Colomb First Nation have had to re-evacuate due to wildfires.
• As of July 5, select community members of Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) have re-evacuated due to wildfire smoke.
• As of July 5, members of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation with the highest health priorities were forced to leave their communities due to wildfire smoke.
• The Red Cross has coordinated transportation by scheduling flights and buses and engaged with other partners to support evacuations to Brandon.
• Emergency support services include registration, reception and information, emergency accommodation, meals, and personal services.
• People who have had to re-evacuate do NOT have to register again with the Canadian Red Cross.

Registration numbers

As of July 3, the Canadian Red Cross has registered more than 22,800 people from more than 9,300 households evacuated due to the wildfires in Manitoba. This includes people from more than 4,700 households on behalf of Indigenous Services Canada, and more than 4,600 households on behalf of the Province of Manitoba.Financial assistance

Financial assistance is being provided to evacuees by either the Canadian Red Cross or the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO).

Financial assistance for individuals living in a First Nation community that is under mandatory evacuation order is being distributed by MKO.

On behalf of the Government of Manitoba, financial assistance for households evacuated from municipalities and non-First Nations communities is being distributed by the Canadian Red Cross.

The Government of Manitoba has determined funding amounts and eligibility for financial assistance, available for households that:

• Are permanent residents of Manitoba;
• Have a primary residence in a municipality or a non-First Nation community that has been placed under a mandatory evacuation order due to wildfire or smoke, issued on or after May 23, 2025;
• Have registered with the Canadian Red Cross; and
• Had their identity validated through the Canadian Red Cross.

The Red Cross began processing financial assistance to households on June 7. We continue to work closely with the province to resolve exceptional cases and validate eligibility. We understand this may be a stressful time and our teams are working as quickly as possible to distribute financial assistance to eligible households.

Answers to frequently asked questions related to financial assistance can be found here.Ongoing support

The Canadian Red Cross is:

• Providing registration, information and well-being support at reception sites in Brandon, Thompson and Winnipeg.
• Providing emergency accommodation in hotels for people who remain evacuated or have had to re-evacuate.
• Working directly with all impacted communities to support health, mental health, and wellbeing needs of evacuated community members in Manitoba. That includes providing non-clinical Health Navigators to help support people impacted by the wildfire evacuations with access to health support they need, as well as providing designated areas for child-friendly spaces.
• Provided emergency supplies such as cots, blankets, and generators, for an additional 12 shelter sites in First Nation and non-First Nation communities in Manitoba, as requested.
• Provided urgent supplies for communities that remain in place, such as food, air purifiers, and other requested equipment.
• Secured more than 2,400 hotel rooms for evacuees in Manitoba (as of July 3).

Donations

As of July 4, the Canadian Red Cross has raised $8.8 million for the 2025 Manitoba Wildfires Appeal. This amount does not include matching funds from the Government of Canada or the Government of Manitoba.Saskatchewan Wildfires

The Canadian Red Cross is working closely with Indigenous leadership as well as federal, provincial and municipal governments to support individuals, families and communities impacted by the wildfires in Saskatchewan. The support offered to date has been at the request of community leadership and through a standing agreement with Indigenous Services Canada.Registration numbers

As of July 3, the Canadian Red Cross has registered more than 10,600 people from more than 3,800 households evacuated due to the wildfires in Saskatchewan.Assistance Provided

As many residents of impacted communities have been able to return home, the Red Cross continues to work closely with Indigenous leadership as well as federal, provincial and municipal governments to support individuals, families, and communities impacted by the wildfires in Saskatchewan.

• Support for Lac La Ronge Indian Band and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation community members whose homes have been damaged due to wildfires or are unable to return home due to wildfire risk continue to be available in Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
• This includes community members from Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation who were evacuated from the community of Kinoosao on July 2 and are receiving Red Cross support in Prince Albert.
• The Canadian Red Cross is providing registration, reception and information, emergency accommodation, meals, and personal services, as well as operating a call-centre, for people who are still evacuated from their homes located within the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, as well as the Lac La Ronge Indian Band communities.
• The Canadian Red Cross continues to operate reception centres in Saskatoon and Prince Albert.

Donations

As of July 7, the Canadian Red Cross has raised $3.4 million for the 2025 Saskatchewan Wildfires Appeal. This amount is inclusive of donations pledged or received and does not include matching funds from the Government of Canada. Matching funds will be applied to the total amount as they become available to the Canadian Red Cross at a later date. The donation total also does not include the funds committed from the Government of Saskatchewan for the Canadian Red Cross to work with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency to assist those most impacted by the wildfires. The application of those committed funds is currently being discussed and will be determined by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.Helpful Resources

Preparedness:

The Red Cross urges people to follow directions from their local authorities and to take the necessary steps to stay safe.

• Families living in areas on evacuation alerts should be ready to leave their homes at a moment’s notice.
• The Red Cross recommends people set aside an emergency kit with items such as drinking water, food, cash, and a portable radio to self-sustain their household for at least three days.
• Additional resources on what to do before, during, and after a wildfire can be found at Wildfires: Before, During and After.

Fraud Alert:

Individuals eligible for financial assistance will NOT need to provide their social insurance number, bank account information or credit card number during their registration or to receive assistance. In addition, the Red Cross will NOT ask for any form of payment in order to receive assistance.
The Canadian Red Cross communicates only via email, phone, or in person and would never send a link through a text message. If anyone has any doubts about the legitimacy of any form of communication from us, please reach out to the Red Cross.

The Red Cross encourages people to stay informed from credible sources, such as the Government of Canada’s website for fraud prevention tips. For anyone who suspects they have been a victim of fraudulent activity, please contact the local police authority. 
Tips for avoiding donation scams
Why misinformation is dangerous, especially during emergencies
Coping with Crisis: expected reactions to abnormal events

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