The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) shares insurance-related information for residents displaced by the wildfire near Flin Flon, Manitoba, as thousands remain under evacuation orders.
According to the IBC, fire-related damage is generally covered under home insurance policies, including damage from fires that spread from neighbouring properties, provided the fire was not set intentionally by the policyholder.
Standard home and tenant insurance policies also typically include coverage for additional living expenses (ALE) when evacuation orders are issued by civil or provincial authorities. The IBC recommended that affected residents retain receipts for expenses such as temporary accommodation and meals to support any potential claims.
Furthermore, safety remains the priority for residents, the IBC said. Homes should not be re-entered until they are deemed safe. Once access is granted, policyholders should contact their insurers, document property damage with photographs and prepare an inventory of affected belongings to support the claims process.
According to the IBC, business owners may be eligible for compensation under business interruption or business income insurance, if included in their policies. Coverage terms can vary depending on the indemnity period, whether limited to the duration of repairs or extended until normal operations resume.
The wildfire, designated as Fire WE024, has grown to more than 56,000 hectares, according to local media reports. Originating near Creighton, Saskatchewan, the fire crossed into Manitoba and has led to the evacuation of nearly all 5,000 residents of Flin Flon and approximately 1,000 others in surrounding areas.
The Manitoba government has declared a state of emergency, with nearly two dozen wildfires active in the province and about 17,000 residents displaced.
In other efforts to support wildfire evacuees, the IBC has activated its Virtual Community Assistance Mobile Pavilion (V-CAMP). The bureau also said it is offering guidance on its Wildfires & Insurance webpage.
Smoke from the wildfire has disrupted aerial firefighting efforts and triggered air quality warnings across the region. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and have deployed military support to assist in firefighting and evacuation efforts.
