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Wildfire Information
Resources for Evacuees
If you've been impacted by the 2025 wildfires in Manitoba, you are not alone. Financial and other essential supports are available to help you through this challenging time.
On this page:
- Information for 2025 Wildfire Evacuees
- Emergency Shelters
- Wildfire Incidental Support Program
- Financial Support
- Financial Support Delivery
- Eligibility for Financial Support
- Incidental Support Program – FAQ
- Health Resources for Evacuees
- Insurance and Wildfire Evacuations: What You Need to Know
- Postal Disruption Information for Evacuees
- Community re-entry toolkits
- Returning Home
Information for 2025 Wildfire Evacuees
Evacuees are encouraged to register with the Canadian Red Cross. Registration ensures you can be contacted and provided financial support while away from home.
- Online Registration: Register here
- Phone Registration: Call 1-800-863-6582 (8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. CST)
Only one person per household needs to register.
Emergency Shelters
Thousands of Manitobans have been displaced from their homes and communities and the Manitoba government has moved quickly to give them safety and shelter. Several congregate shelters were opened to provide immediate safety and shelter, and good progress has been made in moving the majority of people into hotel rooms.
As of Friday, June 20 at 4 p.m., the Leila Soccer Complex at 770 Leila Ave will cease offering congregate shelter services for wildfire evacuees and will become a reception centre. Reception centre services will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Billy Mosienko Arena site will be no longer be used.
All evacuees who do not have a place to stay are asked to proceed to the closest reception centre staffed by Emergency Social Services (ESS) and the Canadian Red Cross:
- Winnipeg, Leila Soccer Complex, 770 Leila Ave, 24/7
- Thompson, Baacos Restaurant, 58 Cree Rd, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily
- Brandon, Victoria Inn, 3550 Victoria Avenue, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily
Wildfire Incidental Support Program
The provincial and federal governments are partnering to provide financial support for households evacuated from their community or First Nation due to the Manitoba wildfires. Funds will be distributed by the Canadian Red Cross and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO).
Financial Support
The financial benefit for Manitobans evacuated under a mandatory order will be $34 per day for each person aged 13 and older ($238 per week) and $27 per day for each child aged 12 and under ($189 per week).
This funding will help support their basic needs and costs while a mandatory evacuation order remains in place for their community or First Nation.
Financial Support Delivery
The Canadian Red Cross and MKO are issuing funds to support evacuees on behalf of the provincial and federal governments. Funds will be issued to the member of the household indicated on the registration form via e-transfer (if a valid email address was provided in registration) or a prepaid card or payment. The first payment issued will cover two weeks of support, with subsequent payments issued based on the duration of evacuation orders.
Second payments of incidental benefits started to flow to residents of evacuated communities on June 25 through e-transfer and cash cards for those without email addresses. Second payments are calculated based on the last incidental payment date and the first day of community re-entry.
To access financial supports, register with the Canadian Red Cross.
Please note: If a household has already registered with the Canadian Red Cross online, over the phone, or in person they should not register again. Once a Red Cross registration number has been received by a household for the 2025 Manitoba Wildfires, that household is considered registered and does not need to do so again. Any duplicate registrations may delay the process as additional validation will be needed.
The Canadian Red Cross will never ask for your banking information, social insurance number or credit card number during registration or to receive financial assistance.
For additional information on the financial assistance program being supported by the Red Cross, please visit: https://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/current-emergency-responses/manitoba-wildfires-response-2025/faqs
Eligibility for Financial Support
Individuals will be eligible for this support if:
- They are permanent residents of Manitoba.
- They have a primary residence in a community or First Nation that has been placed under a mandatory evacuation order due to wildfire or smoke.
- The mandatory evacuation order was issued on or after May 23, 2025.
- They are registered with the Canadian Red Cross.
- Their identity has been confirmed through the Canadian Red Cross.
Incidental Support Program – FAQ
Costs are to cover expenses that come up because an evacuee had to leave their home quickly. These might include things like:
- toiletries or personal care items
- basic clothing or footwear
- phone chargers or other small electronics
- food or groceries as desired
- transportation within the host community
This financial assistance is meant to help cover these basic, short-term needs while one is away from home.
Yes. If you're a permanent Manitoba resident and your community or First Nation is under a mandatory evacuation order issued on or after May 23, 2025, you may be eligible for financial support.
- You must be registered with the Canadian Red Cross or connected to services provided by MKO.
- Have your identity confirmed by the Canadian Red Cross.
- Your primary residence must also be located in a community under a mandatory evacuation order.
Please note: If a household has already registered with the Canadian Red Cross online, over the phone, or in person they should not register again. Once a Red Cross registration number has been received by a household for the 2025 Manitoba Wildfires, that household is considered registered and does not need to do so again. Any duplicate registrations may delay the process as additional validation will be needed.
The financial benefit for Manitobans evacuated under a mandatory order will be $34 per day for each person aged 13 and older ($238 per week) and $27 per day for each child aged 12 and under ($189 per week). More payments will follow if the evacuation continues.
The first payment issued will cover two weeks of support, with subsequent payments issued based on the duration of evacuation orders.
Payments go the member of the household who is registered with the Canadian Red Cross for all persons listed in the registration.
If you've already registered with the Canadian Red Cross and provided a valid email address, your e-transfer should arrive within 3-5 days after your identity has been verified. If you didn't provide an email address, the Canadian Red Cross and MKO are working with individuals and communities to issue prepaid cards/payments.
If you have provided a valid email address, you would receive the money by e-transfer. If you do not have an email, the Canadian Red Cross are working to issue prepaid card/payments in the coming days.
Yes. It doesn't matter where you're staying. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can receive support.
Yes. The Canadian Red Cross and MKO will work with community leaders and government partners to confirm your identity, if needed.
No. This program supports both First Nations and non-First Nations communities equally, through a partnership between the Manitoba government and Indigenous Services Canada.
Health Resources for Evacuees
Information about health supports for evacuees, including mental health resources and Indigenous wellbeing supports, is available through Shared Health at sharedhealthmb.ca/news/wildfire-updates/.
For general health care information, for services such as refilling a prescription, and for information about a loved one who may have been relocated from their personal care home or hospital, call Health Links-Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257 (toll-free).
If you require your Manitoba Health card numbers (PHIN and/or Registration Number) to access medical services, please call 431-276-1334.
Evacuees with health concerns who are in congregate shelters can talk to onsite health care providers who can help with medical concerns, new prescriptions and renewals, and mental health and addictions concerns. Evacuees are encouraged to visit a health information table at the site for more information.
Find a family doctor or nurse practitioner
- Onsite health care providers are located at Health Information Tables in congregate shelters.
- Individuals may also call the Wildfire Health Information Line (nurse managed):
- Winnipeg: 204-788-8200 (Press 1)
- Toll-Free: 1-888-315-9257 (Press 1)
- For questions related to community, government, or social services, please contact 211.
- Additional options for accessing care within Winnipeg include Extended Hours Primary Care Clinic, Minor Injury and Illness Clinics, Walk-In Connected Care Clinics and Walk In Clinics as well as virtual care. For more on accessing these options please visit myrightcare.ca.
- For Flin Flon Evacuees - Primary care providers (such as doctors and nurse practitioners) from the Flin Flon area are registering with QDoc to continue supporting their patients virtually, including issuing prescription refills.
- To connect with a provider, visit qdocs.ca. Under the "Family Doctors" section, evacuees can find and select their regular provider from the list.
Insurance and Wildfire Evacuations: What You Need to Know
If your home is located in a community under a mandatory evacuation order, your private insurance policy may cover certain costs related to your evacuation. This can include accommodations, meals, transportation and other living expenses while you are displaced.
What to Do
- contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to confirm your coverage
- keep all receipts for expenses incurred during the evacuation
- document your evacuation (ex: date, location and any official notices)
Contact your insurance broker/provider directly for more information, or visit the Insurance Bureau of Canada for general guidance.
Postal Disruption Information for Evacuees
The Manitoba government is responding to the postal disruption with Distribution Centres now open for essential mail pickup. Please visit Province of Manitoba | Postal Disruption for up-to-date information.
If you currently receive your payments or benefits by direct deposit, you will not be affected by the postal disruption.
Community re-entry toolkits
These toolkits are designed to support communities in a safe re-entry for residents following an evacuation due to a disaster.
- Community Re-entry Toolkit for Local Authorities (includes entire package)
- Community Re-entry for Businesses
- Community Re-entry for Educational Institutions and Daycares
- Community Re-entry for Food Facilities
- Community Re-entry for Homeowners
Returning Home
Once a municipality officially ends a mandatory evacuation order, residents are permitted to return to their community. When this happens, accommodations and incidental benefits will end.
Residents should be aware any additional costs following the termination of a mandatory evacuation order will be their personal responsibility.
Residents with verified medical needs may be eligible for extended support beyond the end of an emergency evacuation order. These cases are assessed individually through health services, and supports may continue based on medical need.
Returning Home – FAQ
Evacuated residents may return once the municipality officially ends a mandatory emergency evacuation order. These decisions are made based on safety assessments and the readiness of the community to support returning residents.
All social supports related to accommodations and incidental benefits are discontinued once a mandatory evacuation order is lifted. Individuals are responsible for any additional costs incurred after this point.
Following the termination of a mandatory evacuation order, any further expenses are the responsibility of the individual.
Yes. Residents with medical needs may be eligible for extended support beyond the end of a mandatory evacuation order if needed health services they usually access in the community are not yet available. These cases are assessed individually and verified by regional health services based on medical need and available resources in community.