News release

MANITOBA WILDFIRES - Staying Safe While Away from Home

June 4, 2025 - Winnipeg, Manitoba
From: Manitoba RCMP

Content

This brochure provides some basic information about how to stay safe if you have been evacuated from your community. It includes key safety tips, emergency contacts, and important phone numbers for resources while away from home.

Don’t be afraid to speak up if you feel unsafe, unsure, or overwhelmed. Leaders from your home community, Red Cross workers, local Indigenous organizations, the Province of Manitoba, and the police are all here to help you. If you see something that doesn’t feel right, say something.

General Safety and Security Tips:

Remembering some basic safety tips can help you stay safe while away from home:

• When walking around a new area, always be aware and alert to your personal security and surroundings. If you feel uncomfortable, sense danger, or notice something suspicious, turn around or take a different route to get to your destination.
• Stay in groups, especially at night, and avoid unfamiliar areas after dark.
• If staying in a hotel, keep your room door locked, don’t share your room number with strangers, and use the in-room safe to store valuables.
• As much as possible, do not display any valuables (cell phones, money) while walking in public. 
• Let friends and/or family know where you’re going when you leave your assigned hotel or housing.

Protecting Youth & Vulnerable Community Members

• Watch for strangers offering money, gifts, drugs, alcohol, or rides to youth – these can be grooming tactics that can lead to abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking.
  • Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking. Traffickers often look for people who are separated from their families, desperate for money, or in need of work.
  • Report any suspicious behaviour of this nature to police immediately.
• Young people should avoid parties, gatherings, or going to hotel rooms or other locations (homes/apartments) with people they don’t know – this can be other youth or adults.
• When attending large events or an unfamiliar area with children, make a safety plan on what to do if you get separated. This could involve arranging a common meeting place and instructing children to ask a trusted adult (security guard, police officer) for help if they get lost.

Missing Persons

• If someone you know goes missing or you are afraid for someone’s safety, contact police as soon as possible. You do not have to wait a certain amount of time to report someone missing. 
• Anyone can call to report a missing person including family, loved ones, and care providers. To report a missing person, call the Missing Persons Unit at: 204-986-6250.
  • If there is immediate danger, the person is vulnerable, or if they are a young child call 911.
• During large evacuations of people from their communities, the police can coordinate efforts with other provincial agencies and community groups to ensure there are no delays in searching for someone who may be missing.

Elder Fraud/ Elder Abuse

• Don’t give out personal information. Never share bank account details, credit card numbers, Social Insurance Number, Status Card, or other sensitive information to anyone you don’t know and trust. 
• If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you receive a phone call from anyone asking for money – HANG UP. Never send money or gift cards to any person or organization that has contacted you.
  • If you are unsure about who is calling or emailing you, search for their main phone number or email address and call/email them back to verify the request, rather than responding to the message. 
• If you feel uncomfortable or suspicious, hang up, delete the email, or simply ignore the request. Don’t feel pressured to make any decisions and never send money.

Medical Safety:

• If you feel unwell, don’t wait. Ask for assistance, go to a walk-in clinic, or if it’s urgent, call your local emergency number and request an ambulance.
• Street drugs in Winnipeg and in other communities in the province can be laced with Fentanyl – even one use can be fatal. Never take pills, powders, or substances not prescribed to you.

Emergency / Non-Emergency Contacts

Winnipeg City Fire, Police, Ambulance
Dial 911 in an emergency.
For non-emergency within the City of Winnipeg call: 204- 986-6222.
For missing persons call: 204-986-6250

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Dial 911 in an emergency.
For non-emergency contact your local detachment or call: 1-833-803-9399
For missing persons call: 204-986-6250

Red Cross Support Line (for evacuees)
1-888-800-6493

211 Manitoba
Dial 211 for connections to social services, mental health supports, or community resources.

311 City of Winnipeg
Dial 311 to find ways to report, apply/register, pay, or view/find information about popular City services, programs, and activities.

Klinic Crisis Line (24/7)
204-786-8686 or 1-888-322-3019

Kids Help Phone (24/7)
1-800-668-6868
or text CONNECT to 686868

Indigenous Kids Help Phone (24/7)
1-800-668-6868 ext. 3
or text CONNECT to 686868
adults text 741741

Manitoba Suicide Prevention (24/7)
1-877-435-7170

Health Links – Info Santé
(24/7) Nurse Advice
1-888-315-9257