A large wildfire near Lynn Lake, Manitoba, this spring was traced back to a mining site where burn piles weren't fully put out. Investigators say this negligence caused a fire that destroyed homes, forced evacuations, and left a community without power.
The fire burned over 85,000 hectares and caused more than $10 million in damage. The search for the cause of the fire led investigators to Alamos Gold’s MacLellan mine site, located about 7.5 kilometers northeast of Lynn Lake. Officials say the fire began on May 7 when embers from burn piles reignited and spread to nearby forests and homes.
According to search warrant documents, investigators from Manitoba Conservation believe the fire began because Alamos Gold did not properly extinguish burn piles at its gold mine. The piles were allowed to smolder instead of being put out with water, despite rules requiring water suppression equipment.
Burn piles are controlled fires used to safely get rid of brush and wood debris. Companies are allowed to burn these piles with a permit, but they must ensure the fire is completely out afterward. The investigators say Alamos Gold had a permit from May 1 to May 15, but instead of using water to fully extinguish the piles, the embers were left to burn underground.
The sergeant’s affidavit explained that while no actual burning happened after May 3, the piles continued to smolder and spread later. Without water suppression, the fire reignited and quickly spread through dry vegetation, pushed by wind and hot weather.
On May 7, two fires started at the site. One fire to the south was believed to come from an old burn pile and was contained. However, another fire to the north grew out of control and spread quickly across the area. Within weeks, the fire reached close to Lynn Lake, forcing its nearly 600 residents to evacuate.
Lynn Lake’s mayor, Brandon Dulewich, who is also a firefighter, said the situation was heartbreaking. “It’s a tough pill to swallow knowing that it’s not something that just spontaneously happened,” he told reporters.
The fire destroyed dozens of homes and left the community without power. Cleanup efforts are ongoing and require a lot of hard work. Mayor Dulewich explained that many residents have not even returned to see the full extent of the damage.
The town’s power outage continues to prevent families from returning, and most residents have lost their entire summer while waiting for Manitoba Hydro to restore services. “The whole community has been gone. They’ve lost their entire summer,” said Dulewich.
Alamos Gold disagrees with the investigation’s claim of negligence. A company spokesperson stated that all burning was done according to provincial permits and that all required fire suppression equipment was available. The spokesperson also said that Manitoba Conservation never raised concerns about compliance with fire safety rules during their discussions.
After the fire started, the Manitoba Wildfire Service took over the firefighting efforts. Alamos Gold also helped by loaning its 1,000-gallon fire trailer to the service on May 27.
However, when asked whether water suppression was used before the burn piles reignited, the spokesperson did not answer.
The investigators found embers still active in a burn pile weeks after the last controlled burning was completed. This confirmed that the fire likely reignited from these hot spots. They concluded that if proper water suppression had been used, the fire might have been contained early.
The sergeant’s report said that fire guards installed around the piles failed because roots and other combustible materials were not removed, allowing the fire to spread quickly. Heavy equipment used to fight the fire got stuck in soft ground, worsening the situation.
Though the fire was declared under control by May 15, it flared up again by May 20. A worker at the site reported that the fire was spreading fast and reaching nearby trees, and firefighting efforts by helicopter were too late.
Lynn Lake was founded in the 1950s to support nickel mining but has seen a decline in population and jobs as mines closed. When Alamos Gold signed a deal with Marcel Colomb First Nation in 2023 to start a new gold mining project, the town celebrated.
Mayor Dulewich expressed hope that the community could recover but also stressed the need for accountability. “At the beginning of the year, everybody was ecstatic… I think we can get back there. But I think there has to be amends,” he said.
This wildfire highlights the importance of following strict fire safety rules, especially in areas prone to wildfires. Even when permits are followed, negligence or incomplete procedures can cause devastating effects.
For Lynn Lake, the road to recovery will be long. Many families are still without power, and cleanup efforts are continuing. The community hopes that lessons from this disaster will lead to better safety measures in the future.
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