Late last year, after the last of the Manitoba wildfires had died out, the provincial government set a path to create a comprehensive After Action Review (AAR) using 2025’s wildfire data.
Now, on the cusp of another potential wildfire season, an interim plan is in place which the province hopes will help address some of the shortcomings of Manitoba’s response last year.
The review, in its entirety, is expected to be complete this fall.
Lisa Naylor, Minister of Natural Resources, spoke to the interim plan in a recent press release.
“The 2025 wildfire season tested Manitobans like never before, with over 445 wildfires, more than 2.3 million hectares burned and over 33,000 Manitobans evacuated,” Naylor said. “Entire communities were displaced, essential infrastructure was damaged, and, tragically, two Manitobans lost their lives.”
The interim report highlights some of the early findings of last year’s exceptional wildfire season. Based on that, some concrete actions are already in place.
Among them is a planned update to the Manitoba Wildfire Service’s information and fire mapping system, to the tune of $1.2 million. As well, a new fire base will be constructed in the Thompson area.
Another $1.1 million has been committed for aerial firefighting services.
A total of 19 new firefighters have been granted permanent positions along with 15 term emergency management personnel.
The province is adding three new initial attack crews to the human resource team, and they’ll work at continued recruitment and training of community-based wildland firefighters, especially in First Nations regions.
Improvements are also being made to online systems where evacuees register and seek supports. As well, First Nations safety officers will find it easier to work outside of their communities when it comes to offering emergency response support.
Shirley Ducharme, acting grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, spoke on how last year’s wildfires affected Indigenous regions around the province.
“The 2025 wildfire season not only destroyed wide swaths of our territory, it revealed wide gaps in Manitoba’s northern infrastructure and in evacuation response,” Ducharme said. “More than 17,000 First Nations people were forced to leave their homes. Children and families spent weeks and months in hotel rooms in towns and cities across Manitoba.”
With a One Manitoba approach, the province says they will work with vulnerable municipalities, First Nations communities and emergency responders for an improved response hereafter.
“The goal is not simply to learn from what happened, but to build on what we can do going forward,” said Ian Bushie, Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures.