Canada Wildfires

Here in Manitoba, it’s been a pretty rough month. Massive wildfires are ravaging my province, the latest fires prompting evacuations of over 17,000 people. At least one hospital has been evacuated, in another place only one doctor has remained behind, leaving citizens desperate for care. Roads are closing, firefighters and paramedics from all across the province are being deployed elsewhere to assist with the firefighting efforts, and the military is using various aircraft to fly people out of zones with limited road access. Temperatures are set to remain high, and Manitoba has declared a state of emergency. Other provinces are struggling as well.

All this tragedy has prompted me to think - what exactly are the resources available to help those who are chronically ill in wildfire situations in Manitoba?

After some research, here’s what I’ve found:

Manitoba

• Manitoba Wildfires Response 2025 - Canadian Red Cross

  • If you have been evacuated from you community, be sure to register with the Red Cross so that they can connect you with services and resources

  DISASTER RECOVERY

• A guide to disaster recovery for parents & caregivers

• WELLBEING IN RECOVERYY

• Helpful tips & tricks for taking care of your mental health during and after a disaster

• Wildfire Updates - Shared Health

• Information and updates for patients & those with ostomies or on TPN who have been evacuated from Flin Flon

• Health Links – Info Santé

• If you need medical care but are unsure of where to go or what to do, give Health Links a call

• Give MB - Red Cross

• For those who are able to contribute financially to help evacuees

Country - Wide Resources

• Kids Help Phone

• Free, confidential mental health support for young people - texting is even an option!

• Wildfire Smoke and People with Chronic Conditions

• How to deal with wildfire smoke & various chronic conditions

For those of us who do not have flames at our doorstep, let’s make sure to have extra medications and supplies on hand, copies of our medical emergency plan with us, stay connected with our people, ask for help when we need it, and just take care of ourselves! Smoke, stress, the unknown are all things that can affect the chronically ill as well.

Let’s be there for each other in these awful times - Manitoba has a special way of coming together in tragedy; we will make it through to the other side of this and rebuild.

Stay strong my friends💕,

- Alexus Wiebe, Vice President & Communications and Research Director