In court documents obtained by CBC News, provincial investigators probing the cause of the spring wildfire near Lynn Lake, Manitoba, claim that the fire originated at the Alamos Gold Inc. mining site and allege negligence on the part of the company for not utilizing water to extinguish burn piles.
The Manitoba Conservation investigators assert that the fire, which expanded to over 85,000 hectares, began on May 7 when a burn pile at the Toronto-based gold producer’s MacLellan mine site reignited, located approximately 7.5 kilometers northeast of Lynn Lake. By the end of May, the fire had approached within five kilometers of Lynn Lake, prompting the evacuation of nearly 600 residents and causing extensive property damage in the area.
Initial estimates suggest the fire caused around $10 million in damages, with Mayor Brandon Dulewich of Lynn Lake, who also serves as a local firefighter, highlighting the significant cleanup efforts required. Dulewich expressed disappointment over the preventable nature of the fire, emphasizing the impact on the community.
Residents of Lynn Lake were able to briefly return in June, only to be evacuated again in July due to a separate fire incident. As of the latest update, they were awaiting the restoration of power by Manitoba Hydro before returning home.
The court documents are a result of an investigation by Manitoba Conservation into potential violations of the province’s Wildfires Act by Alamos Gold for allegedly starting a fire without adequate precautions to prevent it from escalating. The documents reveal that the sergeant from Manitoba’s Conservation Officer Service conducted a thorough examination of the fire’s origin and progression.
While Alamos Gold maintains that they followed regulations and had the necessary fire suppression equipment in place, investigators argue that the company failed to properly extinguish the burn piles, leading to the fire’s uncontrolled growth. Efforts to contain the fire using heavy equipment were hindered, and the blaze reignited due to adverse weather conditions and insufficient fire containment measures.
The investigation remains ongoing, with conflicting accounts between the investigators and Alamos Gold regarding the handling of the burn piles and the subsequent wildfire. The company has expressed willingness to cooperate with authorities and emphasized its commitment to community safety.
The devastating impact of the wildfire on Lynn Lake underscores the importance of proper fire prevention measures and enforcement of regulations to safeguard communities and natural resources.