Dry winters can increase the risk of wildfires

While most Manitobans are enjoying a mild winter, warmer weather could have a negative impact in the coming months.

Curtis Hull, who is associated with Climate Change in Manitoba, said the drier weather in the spring and summer could lead to “really serious impacts,” including increased risk of wildfires.

According to him, this is especially true for those who live in forested areas.

“If a fire threatens a community and they have to evacuate, and you're a winter road community, the only way in and out in the summer is by air,” he said in an interview Wednesday.

“So we had to evacuate those communities by air.”

Hull said even those who don't live in forests can be affected by these fires because they create smoky conditions on the Prairies.

“If you have breathing problems or if you're vulnerable, that smoke can be really sneaky,” he said.

Along with increased wildfire danger, the lack of snow is causing winter road issues in some Manitoba communities.