As many as 1,000 people have been evacuated near Lac du Bonnet as a raging wildfire tears through the area, growing in intensity through the late afternoon and evening Tuesday.

Loren Schinkel, the reeve of the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet, told the Free Press on Wednesday morning that Tuesday was a dark day for residents.

“There are some truly horrific stories that I’ve heard, people being surrounded by flames,” Schinkel said.

No injuries have been reported, but there have been significant building losses in the Wendigo Beach area. Schinkel said he was set to receive a situation report at 10 a.m.

The province’s latest update said the fire stretches across more than 12,000 acres and is labelled as out of control. The province is set to give journalists a wildfire update at noon.

The RM extended its evacuation order for a seventh time Tuesday night as winds shifted in the area. Those orders were modified several times Tuesday.

Despite cooler temperatures forecast over the next few days, Schinkel said his community is still at risk. Winds have shifted again from the north, threatening to push the fire back across Highway 313.

“It’s helped us maintain some lines on the northern end, so we’re hopeful there,” he said. “It’s a better day today. It’s cooler out. And we’re hopeful we’re getting some moisture in the next couple of days.”

Schinkel said homeowners will not be allowed to return to their homes until damage assessments can be made and hydro lines restored. He did not have a timeline on when that is expected to happen.

“We understand our residents are anxious, but we simply cannot let anyone back into the area until we get the fire under control,” he said.

Schinkel said he was grateful for the efforts of numerous emergency crews, volunteers, businesses and residents outside of the evacuation zone helping to fight the fires, deliver food and supplies, or open their doors to strangers in need.

He said there were four water bombers and a helicopter battling the blaze until dark Tuesday night.

“I can’t thank them enough on behalf of our residents,” Schinkel said. “It’s truly remarkable.”

Evacuation orders are in place for the following areas:

• Wendigo Road from Highway 313 to Byman Road (this area includes Gauer Road, Harborview, White Spruce on the Lake, and all other homes east and west of Wendigo)
• Highway 433 north of Lagsdin Way (including all of the subdivisions of Granite Hills and Cape Coppermine)
• Highway 433 from Lagsdin Way to Provincial Road Highway 313
• Highway 313 from Highway 433 to the Rural Municipality of Alexander (the north and west sides of Highway 313 to the Alexander boundary line)
• All subdivisions south of Highway 313 off Urban Road, Belluk Road, Lee Dale Estates, Bonnet Oaks South

All residents are ordered to leave immediately and go to the Lac du Bonnet Community Centre for registration and more information, the RM of Lac du Bonnet’s website stated. Pet care is available there for owners who need it.

People are being asked to steer clear of the area to allow emergency crews to do their work.

Manitoba Hydro said late Wednesday morning that it would soon be evacuating its remaining employees from the Pointe du Bois and Slave Falls generating stations on the Winnipeg River as wildfires threaten to cut off road access.

Most employees at the facilities were evacuated earlier this week. About half a dozen staff members remained Wednesday morning.

“Both stations will be left in a safe state, with the generating units shut down and water passing through the spillways,” a news release said.

The shutdown will result in the loss of about 70 megawatts of generating capacity, but that will not affect service to customers, the public utility said.

Crews are also working to “de-energize” power lines in the wildfire area to reduce the risk for firefighters.

The fire has damaged Hydro poles, lines and other equipment. Manitoba Hydro said it won’t know the extent of damage until it can safely access the areas.

As of Wednesday morning, about 200 customers were without power in the Wendigo Beach area at Lac du Bonnet, along with 300 in the Bird Lake and Booster Lake areas, about 900 on the west side of the Lee River, and about 100 customers in the Beresford Lake area. It’s not clear when power can be restored in those areas.

Premier Wab Kinew and Ontario Premier Doug Ford discussed wildfires that were burning on both sides of the provincial border before speaking to reporters at an unrelated news conference in Toronto on Wednesday morning.

One of the biggest fires is burning along the boundary.