Media Information Update: Manitoba and Saskatchewan Wildfires

Press Release

Topics: Emergencies and Disasters in Canada  Manitoba  Saskatchewan
OTTAWA |

In this issue:

• Registration numbers
• Assistance provided
• Additional Support including flights
• Donation updates
• Preparedness information
• 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.

The Red Cross continues to work closely with community leadership, the Government of Manitoba and/or Indigenous Services Canada to provide support to people impacted by wildfires.

As of August 13, the Canadian Red Cross is providing support to the following communities, as requested and directed by the community, Government of Manitoba and/or Indigenous Services Canada:

• Garden Hill Anisininew First Nation
• Leaf Rapids
• Little Grand Rapids First Nation
• Lynn Lake
• Marcel Colomb First Nation
• Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (Pukatawagan)
• Nisichawayasihk (Nelson House) Cree Nation (community members have been evacuated as of August 2)
• O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation (South Indian Lake)
• Red Sucker Lake (select community members have been evacuated as of August 3)
• Snow Lake

Canadian Red Cross support may include registration, reception and information, personal services, lodging, emergency supplies, and transportation, as requested.

People who have had to re-evacuate do not have to register again with the Canadian Red Cross.

Registration numbers

As of August 11, the Canadian Red Cross has registered more than 32,000 people from more than 12,000 households evacuated due to the wildfires in Manitoba. This includes people from more than 7,000 households on behalf of Indigenous Services Canada, and more than 5,000 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.
• Is providing emergency accommodation for people who remain evacuated or have had to re-evacuate.
• Has secured more than 2,600 hotel rooms for evacuees in Manitoba to date.
• Is operating and coordinating logistics for two congregate shelters in Winnipeg.
• Is working directly with all impacted communities to support health, mental health, and wellbeing needs of community members in Manitoba who have been evacuated from their homes. This includes providing non-clinical Health Navigators to help support people with access to health support, as well as providing designated areas for child-friendly spaces.
• Has 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.
• Has provided urgent supplies for communities that remain in place, such as food, air purifiers, and other requested equipment.

Additional Support

Coordinated the scheduling of flights and buses and engaged with other partners to secure modes of transportation for the arrival of people being evacuated into Winnipeg, and for those who returned home, where possible. This includes more than 700 flights, carrying more than 10,000 passengers.

Donations

As of August 8, the Canadian Red Cross has raised $9.6 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 August 7, the Canadian Red Cross has registered more than 17,000 people from more than 6,700 households evacuated due to the wildfires in Saskatchewan. This support is offered to evacuated community members of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation at the request of community leadership and through a standing agreement with Indigenous Services Canada.

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.

• The Canadian Red Cross is distributing financial assistance to eligible households evacuated from their primary residence due to wildfires in Saskatchewan. The financial assistance is thanks to the $15 million committed to the Canadian Red Cross by the Government of Saskatchewan (announced in June 2025) and is designed to contribute to households moving into their recovery. The Red Cross will distribute financial assistance directly to eligible households who are not members of a First Nation community. Eligible households who are members of a First Nation community will receive financial assistance through their community leadership. Details may be found here.
• Members of Lac La Ronge Indian Band living off reserve in La Ronge, Air Ronge, Wadin Bay, Napatak, Brabant or Nemeiben Lake will receive this financial assistance through the Canadian Red Cross.
• 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, continues to be available in Saskatoon.
• 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.
• The Canadian Red Cross continues to operate a reception centre in Saskatoon.

Donations

As of August 1, the Canadian Red Cross has raised more than $3.8 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.

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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