While Thompson is currently under a pre-alert for evacuation, it’s the time for preparation and not panic.

Mayor Colleen Smook, in her daily wildfire update yesterday, said work to protect the city is going well, including the addition of more fire breaks and ongoing brush and tree clearing.

When asked about the 12-hour deadline the City is considering should a mandatory evacuation order be made, Smook had this to say.

“We learnt from Denare Beach, Flin Flon and all of our Northern partners, some have been able to give 24 or 48 hours evacuation notice. We determined that 12 hours would be better to give up here because that way, with the numbers that we have to get out of here, we have to have everyone on the highway in that 12 hours.”  

Smook is strongly encouraging residents to fill out the evacuation registry they launched last week.

The information will help organizers determine what resources are needed for an evacuation.

Currently, they have lined up roughly 65 buses to help transport people out of the city, based on the responses they have received to date.