The Sourdough Bay blaze, officially known as the “WE010” fire, has expanded from 20 hectares reported Friday to about 3,000 hectares as of Saturday afternoon, just two days after it was first spotted. Although the fire is still at least 15 kilometres away from Flin Flon, the fire’s behaviour is extreme due to drought conditions and high winds. RCMP and the Conservation Officer Service have evacuated the Sourdough Bay area and fire crews are keeping an eye on Whitefish Lake where the fire is expected to head next if wind forecasts hold for the rest of the weekend.

With support from the Office of the Fire Commissioner and Manitoba Wildfire Service sprinklers are being set up to protect structures in the cottage area.

As of Saturday afternoon, Manitoba Wildfire Service has two helicopter crews, two waterbombers, and two other aircraft covering the WE010 fire. Firefighters from Flin Flon and Cranberry Portage have also been dispatched to help protect homes and cabins. Firefighters been called in from Saskatchewan and Ontario, and equipment from the fire base in Denare Beach has been deployed.

Meanwhile, a second large fire, named  WE011, has been reported southeast of Wanless. The fire is about 100 hectares in size and is, at its closest point, less than four kilometres away from the community, but wind has been pushing the fire to the east and southeast, away from Wanless. No evacuation orders have been made for Wanless as of 3:30 p.m. Saturday, but a fire break will be set up near the community.