Smoke rises from wildfire WE024 which has prompted a pre-evacuation notice in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada May 27, 2025.
Manitoba Government | Via Reuters
Canadian mining company Hudbay Minerals said on Wednesday it had temporarily suspended operations in Snow Lake, Manitoba, due to wildfires in the region.
Additionally, exploration activities in the Flin Flon and Snow Lake regions have been paused as fire mitigation efforts are underway, the company added.
The company said it believes its infrastructure and facilities in Snow Lake and Flin Flon have a low risk of being damaged.
“We will continue to monitor the situation, ensuring a safe return to full operations as soon as it is advisable,” said Rob Carter, Hudbay’s senior vice president, Canada.
The company’s actions come after local authorities issued a precautionary early evacuation notice for the town of Snow Lake on Tuesday.
Hudbay’s Manitoba operations produced 7.7 million pounds of copper in the first quarter of 2025, 7.2% of the company’s total production.
Last week, Manitoba declared a state of emergency and urged thousands of people in northern and eastern parts of the province to evacuate, as wildfires spread in Central and Western Canada.
The outbreak of fires across much of western Canada’s north is due to unusually hot and dry conditions and flames are consuming hundreds of thousands of hectares of tinder-dry forest and bushland.
Separately, wildfires in Alberta province have also prompted the temporary shutdown of some oil and gas production, with Cenovus Energy scaling back its nonessential workers at its Foster Creek facility.
About The Author
