Wildfires force more than 800 to evacuate northwestern Ontario First Nation
Wildfires have forced more than 800 residents to evacuate their northwestern Ontario First Nation.
Chief Waylon Scott of the Wabaseemoong Independent Nation, which sits about 100 kilometres northwest of Kenora near the Manitoba border, says rain and cooler temperatures have kept several fires at bay, but the blazes still pose a major threat.
In a video conference with reporters Sunday, he said crews are trying to beat back flames from a 0.3-square-kilometre wildfire burning just over a kilometre from the community.
Scott says roughly 100 firefighters, including 20 flown in from British Columbia, are battling that blaze as well as two much bigger fires — one roaring across 90 square kilometres and from which the smaller fire jumped.
Scott says sprinklers are now set up outside about 80 per cent of the buildings in his community, with every home likely to have one within a couple of days.
Fast-moving wildfires triggered evacuation alerts across northwestern Ontario last week amid the first heat wave of the season.
Manitoba also declared a state of emergency in one of its provincial parks as that province battles several large fires.
Scott said about 800 Wabaseemoong residents were flown to Niagara Falls, Ont., for a stay at a pair of hotels, with medical staff on site, while a couple dozen more headed to Winnipeg.
'We literally had hours to evacuate because the Kenora fire literally sprang up without anyone knowing. It wasn't on MNR's (the Ministry of Natural Resources') radar.
'It was scary at times,' he said. 'You can actually hear the roar of the fire from across the river.'
Since Scott became chief in 2019, the community has seen three evacuations and six emergencies, he said.
'I can't explain what kind of toll it takes on them, but it does take a toll,' he said. 'Every spring moving forward, I believe they're going to be on the edge of their seat with the fire season.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
27 minutes ago
- CBC
Summer weather outlook suggests Atlantic Canadians will be looking for shade
Social Sharing Environment and Climate Change Canada's summer seasonal weather outlook was released on Tuesday, and Atlantic Canada is likely looking at some hot times. Scientists explaining the outlook to journalists on a webinar said there is a high likelihood of warmer-than-normal temperatures across most of Canada for June, July and August, including all of Atlantic Canada. The likelihood of the summer being drier than usual is also heightened, but by not as much. "There's not a very good batting average on the precipitation outlook when it comes to seasonal outlooks," said CBC Prince Edward Island meteorologist Jay Scotland, who was on the call. He said the temperature outlooks tend to be more on target, and "we are looking at a very high probability, over 90 per cent, of a warmer than normal June, July and August" in Atlantic Canada. "That not does not mean the day-to-day weather ... You cannot rule out some cooler stretches," Scotland added. "But when we average it out, the temperature's expected to be above the 30-year average." The main reason for that is human-induced climate change, Scotland said, though a positive phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) is another contributing factor. "We've seen a 1.8-degree rise in Canada's average summer temperature since 1948, which is almost twice the global average increase. And when you head up into higher latitudes like the Arctic, it's even higher than that." The prospect of the summer being drier as well as hotter is less certain. "We do often worry about not just agriculture, but the fire risk, so Environment and Climate Change Canada also covered the chance for a heightened fire season," Scotland said. June and July look to be normal on that front, he said. August is a different matter. "There is a tilt toward drier-than-average conditions for all of P.E.I. and Nova Scotia as well as eastern New Brunswick and parts of Newfoundland. Much of Labrador is tilting toward wetter conditions, but the confidence is fairly low on this precipitation outlook. Heat illness is, of course, always the biggest threat when it comes to warmer than normal temperatures. — Jay Scotland "If that does come to fruition with the warmer temperatures, obviously that means drier vegetation and you're increasing your fire risk." He advised Atlantic Canadians to pay attention to fire bans and follow the rules when it comes to controlled burning and campfires. "Heat illness is, of course, always the biggest threat when it comes to warmer than normal temperatures," he added. "So you've just got to pay attention to your body, learn the signs of heat illness and act."
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Severe thunderstorm warning ends for Montreal area
A pedestrians runs through a rainstorm Thursday, July 13, 2023 in Montreal. Power outages persist in the Montreal area after severe thunderstorms ripped through southern Quebec on Thursday, downing trees, snapping poles and breaking wires. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz After a heavy downpour and strong winds in Montreal, Environment and Climate Change Canada's severe thunderstorm warning has ended. The weather agency issued the alert shortly after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday for parts of southern Quebec, warning about strong wind gusts and heavy rainfall. As the warning was lifted around 3 p.m., Montreal was under mostly cloudy skies and a high of 21 C. Skies are expected to clear Tuesday evening, with wind gusts of up to 50 km/h and a low of 15 C. The forecast for Wednesday calls for a mix of sun and clouds and a high of 25 C.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Evacuation orders issued in Greenview, Saddle Hills due to wildfires
A shoulder patch of the Alberta Wildfire service is pictured in Fort McMurray, Alta., Thursday, May 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh A mandatory evacuation order was issued in the Municipal District of Greenview on Tuesday. The alert was issued at 11:03 a.m. due to an out-of-control wildfire burning over 325 hectares north of the Bison Flats recreation area. The evacuation order was in effect for everyone between the Smoky River and Forestry Trunk Road, including all points accessed from the road from km 70 to km 126. Residents were told to gather pets, medication, and food and water for at least three days. Evacuation order expanded in Saddle Hills Saddle Hills County expanded an evacuation order on Tuesday due to a 300-hectare wildfire burning out of control west of Blueberry Mountain. Monday's emergency alert was expanded at 11:40 include everyone between Township Road 794 and Highway 49, between Range Roads 94 and 85. An evacuation order was also in place for everyone between Range Road 95 and Highway 725, and Township Roads 794 and 802, including Moonshine Lake Provincial Park. An evacuation centre had been set up at the Blueberry Mountain Hall on Highway 680 and Range Road 82. Residents were told to prepare to be gone for up to a week. The most up-to-date information on emergency alerts can be found on the Alberta government's website.
