A 40,000-hectare forest fire is burning near Kisseynew Lake, between the areas of Cranberry Portage and Sherridon. (Tracy Wheeler-Anderson)About 200 people in the northern Manitoba community of Cranberry Portage have chosen to flee the fire-threatened area voluntarily rather than wait for an evacuation order from the province.

A massive forest fire is burning is about 13 kilometres away from the community of about 600 people, which has been put on alert in case they need to get out in a hurry.

The fire at Kisseynew Lake, between Cranberry Portage and Sherridon, had grown to about 40,000 hectares by noon Thursday — four times the size it was late Wednesday.

Twenty-nine fire crews, including ones from Ontario and Minnesota, are battling a blaze that has forced the evacuation of Cormorant and put Cranberry Portage on alert. It is being fueled by extremely dry conditions and gusting winds, Manitoba Conservation officials said.

There have been no injuries, although two cabins were recently destroyed as well as a rail bridge near Optic Lake, stated a media bulletin from the province.

As well, some equipment and vehicles have also been damaged by the blaze.

A health hazard caused by the thick smoke prompted the province on Wednesday to evacuate the village of Cormorant, about 70 kilometres southeast of Cranberry Portage.

The half-dozen people in the tiny community have all gone to The Pas, about 100 kilometres south.

Smoke blocking planes

Water bombers have had difficulty getting at some areas of the fire because of the dense smoke.

Paul Guyader, director of operations for Manitoba's Emergency Measures Organization, said the smoke is coming from more than one source — and more than one province.

"Northern Saskatchewan is in the same situation and the smoke from those fires is encrouching on us," he said.

Favourable winds Thursday are keeping the fire and most of the smoke away from Highway 10, which is the access road to Cranberry Portage, said Guyader.

If that roadway is threatened, the order to evacuate will be made.

Residents asked to register

Residents are being asked to register at the local hockey rink so that officials know who is still around. Although an official order hasn't been given to clear out, about 200 residents have already left.

Tracy Wheeler- Anderson, a schoolteacher from Cranberry Portage, was packing up treasured items and hustling her children into a camper Thursday morning to head out of the community.

Her husband, a logger and volunteer firefighter, is staying behind to try to save their home.

"The hardest thing is [the kids] saying good-bye to their dad. He's setting up some more hoses around the house and some sprinkler systems," she said.

"He was just going to stick around long enough to send us off and then he'll be back out on the fire [line]."

'It's a bad one'

Wheeler- Anderson said her husband has never seen a fire as big as this.

"It's a bad one. He's a logger and it's pretty hard to watch your livelihood going down the drain," she said. "He figures there's about five years worth of wood gone already."

'It's a bad one. He's a logger and it's pretty hard to watch your livelihood going down the drain.'—Tracy Wheeler- Anderson

There are 29 firefighting crews from Manitoba, Ontario and Minnesota are fighting the blaze, about 800 kilometres north of Winnipeg, using 11 helicopters, eight water bombers and other heavy equipment.

As well, about 30 firefighters from British Columbia are expected to arrive at some point on Thursday to help out.

There is no rain in the forecast for the area until the weekend, and even then the amount will likely be just five millimeters.

Ivale Gibbon, whose family has owned and operated the Constables Lakeside Lodge in Cranberry Portage since 1928, said he plans to stay put until he's forced to go.

"There's lots of people who haven't left yet. I'm staying here until they come and say we have to go," she said, adding she didn't feel like she was in any immediate danger.

"Not right now, but it all depends if the wind changes," she admitted. "That you can't predict."

'We have everything in our cars and if the fire truck comes along with the siren going, that means we have to go.'—Ivale Gibbon

Residents have been told they would be given two hours notice if a mandatory evacuation was necessary, Gibbon said.

"Everybody's all packed. We have everything in our cars and if the fire truck comes along with the siren going, that means we have to go."

But she said she hoped it wouldn't come to that. The property on the lake where her hunting and fishing lodge sits was cleared by her parents, grandparents and an uncle.

"I was an only child and all my family has spent their summers down here. Now they're married and have their children and they come. It means an awful lot to us."

With files from The Canadian Press