WINNIPEG: Thompson City has extended its local state of emergency for an additional 30 days due to ongoing and spreading wildfires. A city spokesperson confirmed that the council voted to prolong the emergency, which originally came into effect on July 7. The decision comes as a weather agency has warned that temperatures are expected to reach 30 degrees Celsius by Friday, potentially exacerbating the fire situation.
Currently, three wildfires are burning out of control near the community. Among them, the Manitoba NO061 wildfire had advanced to within 14 kilometers of Thompson as of Tuesday. This particular blaze is actively spreading across an area of 18,365 hectares.
To aid in the firefighting efforts, a contingent of firefighters from Quebec is already assisting with control operations. The city spokesperson also announced that another team of firefighters is expected to join the battle against the wildfires on Wednesday, providing much-needed reinforcement. The extension of the state of emergency underscores the persistent threat posed by the fires and the city’s commitment to ensuring public safety and coordinating response efforts.
