Norway House Cree Nation, Manitoba, has put a total fire ban in place immediately across the community and its surrounding Resource Management Area due to very high fire hazard conditions. The ban means no open fires or burning of any kind are allowed until further notice.
The NHCN Emergency Response team is keeping a close watch on the situation and will share updates with residents as things change, according to an alert from Alertable. The community posted the ban on its Facebook page, saying, “Effective immediately – Norway House Cree Nation has implemented a ‘Total Fire Ban’ until further notice.”
This local action comes as dry spring weather keeps fire danger high across Manitoba. As of May 26, the province has already seen 21 wildfires this year, with seven still burning, according to the latest Manitoba fire report. Three fires are in the east, three in the west, and one in the north. Provincial parks currently allow campfires only in approved fire pits, with open fires prohibited as part of seasonal restrictions that run annually from April 1 to November 15.
The 2025 wildfire season was one of the worst in Manitoba’s memory, destroying more than 130 properties and forcing over 32,000 people from their homes. Norway House itself hosted evacuees from neighbouring Pimicikamak Cree Nation during that crisis. For this year, the province has spent $1.2 million upgrading weather and fire mapping systems for the Manitoba Wildfire Service to help crews respond faster.
Norway House Cree Nation has about 6,883 members living on reserve, with a total registered population of 9,369. The community sits about 460 kilometres north of Winnipeg, along the Nelson River north of Lake Winnipeg. Chief Season Roulette, elected on May 1, leads the community as it faces another challenging fire season.
