Forced from their homes due to summer wildfires, residents of Leaf Rapids have returned to the community but now face a new disaster. With fridges and freezers destroyed, their ability to store food for the winter ahead is al but gone. Harvest Manitoba has contributed 2500 pounds of food, however Freda Lapine of the Indegenous Peoples Alliance of Manitoba in concerned with  the struggles of food storage.

" The deep freezes and refrigerators are a must,  because most people in Leaf Rapids are either fisherman or trappers. It is this time of the year that they go out hunting and fishing so they have food for the rest of the year. As we all know the food is so expensive in the North."

Many have returned to find their properties uninhabitable, due to extensive water damage and dangerous mould infestation. that have left families scrambling to rebuild. Leaf Rapids currently has no mayor or town council,   and is now run by Way to Go Consulting; a provincially appointed management firm  .In a statement, the province said: Manitoba will continue to provide support to residents who qualify for provincial support programs, such as Employment and Income Assistance, Manitoba Housing, and other programs. We understand the challenges relating to home insurance but are unable to address issues that are outside the scope of the province or the municipality