On City Beat last Thursday, Mayor Colleen Smook provided an update on fires here in the north.

She said that as of September 9th, 132 fires were still burning in Manitoba, with 114 in the north.

Smook shared the status of the fire closest to Thompson.

“Wildfire Services advise that the fire closest to Thompson is still smoking in some areas and there are hot spots that have been detected by aerial scans that are too deep for the fire crews to get in and dig them out. It’s going to take more rain and cool weather to help put out those fires completely and some may not even be completely extinguished by the time snow flies.”  

With the peat moss that is under a good portion of the boreal forest, the fires can smolder throughout the winter and reignite with warm weather and winds in the spring and summer.

Smook added these areas will continue to be monitored to watch for signs of flare ups, now and again next year.