Wildfires in northern Manitoba have forced more than 17,000 people to leave their homes as the province declared a state of emergency. In response to the devastation, polite Canadians across the province are offering help and places for evacuees to stay.

As the hotels across Manitoba are already full, emergency shelters have been set up in places like Winnipeg, Thompson, Winkler, and Portage la Prairie. Billy Mosienko Arena, Eric Coy Arena, and Century Arena in Winnipeg are closed to the public so they can be used as emergency shelters.

From strawberry farms to car dealerships, people in Manitoba are offering their properties to help the evacuees. Darin Hubscher, the owner of Sweet Acres, has offered his corn and strawberry farm near Swan River for evacuees to stay. He’s letting people park their vehicles and stay there, even if it’s just for a short stop on their way to safety. Local organizations such as the First Nations Family Advocate Office are collecting donations to help the evacuees.

The University of Manitoba is providing space for evacuees and firefighters. The YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg is offering evacuees free access to its facilities to use showers, join kids’ programs, and more. The Canadian Red Cross has already registered over 8,900 people from more than 3,500 households as of May 30. People can register for help online or by calling 1-800-863-6582 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. CDT.

Our prayers are with the thousands of people who have been forced out of their homes, and we wish more power and strength to the community members who are banding together to support the evacuees.