People who were forced from their homes by a wildfire in eastern Manitoba say they’re shattered by the scale of destruction and loss seen in their close-knit community.
The fire in the rural municipality of Lac du Bonnet has claimed two lives and destroyed dozens of homes. As of Thursday, the 4,000-hectare blaze was still considered out of control.
Between 800 and 1,000 people are estimated to have been forced to out of their homes and cottages in the community, which is about 100 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.
Michelle Potter and her daughter Emily were among the evacuees. She said her home survived, but everything around it was destroyed by the fire.
The family saw ruined homes and the wreckage of vehicles abandoned on the road as they made their way to safety Tuesday.
“A lot of cottages have been — there’s not even any rubble left,” she said. “We’re just kind of like this little pocket and we’re OK. And then up the road, everything is gone.”
WATCH | Lac du Bonnet evacuees recount evacuation:
Evacuees Michelle Potter and her daughter Emily Potter recount fleeing the deadly wildfires in Manitoba. ‘There’s not even any rubble left,’ said Michelle. ‘It was fearful. It was extremely scary.’
“It truly feels like a miracle that the fire turned direction and spared us,” said Emily Potter, who lives near her mother. “But it’s really hard to feel like we got a win when there’s so much devastation and lost lives and horrible things happening.”
RCMP announced Wednesday they found the remains of a couple near Lac du Bonnet who were trapped by the flames. Police said first responders couldn’t get to them earlier because of the extreme conditions caused by the fire.
People in the area said Sue and Richard Nowell were well known in the close-knit community, and their deaths leave them heartbroken.
WATCH | Community devastated by wildfire deaths:
News of the deaths of two people from the RM of Lac du Bonnet in a wildfire earlier this week has hit the community hard. Premier Wab Kinew said the deaths turned ‘an emergency into a tragedy.’
Shane McCoy lives near where the couple was found. He and his wife, Lydia left their home Tuesday after RCMP told them they had to go.
“We’ve just been going by the grace of God that we still have a house. Neighbours haven’t been so fortunate,” he said. “There’s quite a few neighbours that don’t have a home to [come back] to anymore.”
The RM of Lac du Bonnet said the fire had destroyed at least 28 structures as of Thursday.
McCoy said that while the home is OK, he’s worried the wind could push the fire closer, as well as about the safety of their pet birds. He said he doesn’t know when he’ll be able to go back.
Michelle Potter is staying in Beausejour, while Emily is in Winnipeg. She said she never thought she’d ever question whether she would be able to return to a home she’s lived in since the late 1980s.
Emily said her mom had to be dragged out by her stepdad as she attempted to take all the family’s photos off the wall and pack them up.
“There’s just so many decades of memories of living there. I know it was really hard for my mom to leave that place and not to know what you’re going back to,” she said.
