Latest news with #AFFES
CBC
29-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Deer Lake First Nation evacuation begins as wildfires ramp up across the region
As crews work to douse a dozen wildfires in northwestern Ontario, new restrictions are being put in place in hopes of preventing further damage. On Wednesday, Deer Lake First Nation called for a community evacuation due to a 100-hectare wildfire known as Red Lake 12, located near the remote community's airport. CL415 waterbombers worked throughout the afternoon until dark to reduce the fire's intensity. By morning, it had grown to about 2,500 hectares. While it is moving in a westerly direction away from the community, chief and council have requested a Phase 1 evacuation of vulnerable people starting Thursday, said Chris Marchand, fire information officer with Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES). "That certainly illustrates the very dry conditions that we're seeing and have seen over the last several weeks," Marchand told CBC News in an interview Thursday afternoon. "This area close to the Manitoba border has not seen more than 10 millimetres of rain in weeks, and there really isn't a lot to look forward to in the forecast." About 1,100 people live in Deer Lake, an Oji-Cree community in Treaty 5 located about 180 kilometres north of Red Lake. It is only accessible by air or winter road. CBC News has reached out to community leadership and officials and is waiting to confirm details about where evacuees from Deer Lake are being sent. Dave Tarini, deputy chief of Thunder Bay Fire Rescue, said evacuees will be hosted in southern Ontario, but he is unaware of the exact location. Further south, Wabaseemoong Independent Nations has been under an evacuation order since May 13; evacuees are staying in Niagara Falls, Kenora and Winnipeg due to Kenora 20, which is now 34,000 hectares large. Meanwhile, east of Deer Lake, Webequie First Nation issued a pre-evacuation notice to its members on Wednesday, urging them to create 72-hour emergency kits due to Nipigon 5, which is within one kilometre of the First Nation. "Out of caution, chief and council, alongside health officials, are advising all residents — especially those with respiratory conditions or chronic health issues — to remain indoors as much as possible. Air quality and fire movement will continue to be monitored on an hourly basis," the First Nation said in an update issued Thursday. Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, alongside Environment and Climate Change Canada, have issued special air quality statements for much of the northwest. These span as far north as Fort Severn, east to Geraldton, south to Dryden and west to Kenora, affecting more than a dozen First Nations. On Wednesday evening, Ontario's (AFFES) reported that: Five fires are under control. Three fires are being held. Three fires are not under control. Four fires have been called out over the last 24 hours. New restricted fire zone in effect Friday As of midnight on Friday, Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources is enforcing a new restricted fire zone in the northwest. Another restricted fire zone has been in effect since May 16, including areas between the U.S. and Manitoba borders to Atikokan, and north to Pickle Lake. The new restricted zone extends eastward from the existing boundaries near Upsala and Quetico Park in the south to encompass the Thunder Bay area, with the Nipigon River acting as the new eastern boundary, Marchand explained. "At a time when we have significant fire activity that is affecting various communities and engaging so much of our resources, it's important that we take these measures to limit the potential for human-caused fires at this time," he said. Under a restricted fire zone, no open-air burning, including campfires, is permitted. "Portable gas or propane stoves may be used for cooking and warmth but must be handled with extreme caution. All burning permits are suspended," Ontario Forest Fires says on its website. The City of Thunder Bay is also issuing its own fire ban, which will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday. No open-air burning will be permitted, and all burn permits suspended, until the provincial restricted fire zone is lifted, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue said in a media release issued Thursday.
CBC
29-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Wildfire within 1 kilometre of Deer Lake First Nation prompts call for community evacuation
Dry conditions creating high to extreme fire behaviour, fast rate of spread Image | Wildfire smoke northwestern Ontario Caption: A photo of wildfire smoke posted to Facebook May 24, 2025 by Ontario Forest Fires. A number of restrictions remain in effect in the region, including a restricted fire zone, travel bans and limits on access to certain lakes and waterways, as the wildland fire hazard remains high to extreme. (Ontario Forest Fires/Facebook) Open Image in New Tab Water bombers and bird dog aircraft are responding to a wildfire near Deer Lake First Nation in northwestern Ontario, which has prompted leadership to request a community evacuation. The fire, known as Red Lake 12, is within one kilometre of Deer Lake's airport, fire information officer Chris Marchand told CBC News. "The fire has quickly grown in size to 100 hectares and community officials are guiding residents to a safe zone near the bay close to the nursing station," Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) posted on Facebook Wednesday evening. About 1,100 people live in Deer Lake, an Oji-Cree community in Treaty 5 located about 180 kilometres north of Red Lake. It is only accessible by air or winter road. Shortly before 5:30 p.m. CST, southwest winds were pushing the flames away from the community, Marchand said, though he noted the situation was quickly evolving. West of Deer Lake, Manitoba has declared a provincewide state of emergency as wildfires are rapidly spreading across the region. "We have not at all had enough moisture to really get us out of these escalating fire conditions," said Marchand. "This ongoing lack of rainfall over the past several weeks, particularly near the Manitoba border, is resulting in some really high to extreme fire behaviour and fast rates of spread." Late Wednesday afternoon, Webequie First Nation issued a pre-evacuation notice to its members due to a nearby wildfire, encouraging people to prepare 72-hour emergency kits with medications, ID, water, clothing and charging cables as a precaution. "As one set of tankers were headed to Deer Lake, another set of tankers were headed to that community," Marchand said. Earlier in May, an evacuation order was issued in Wabaseemoong Independent Nations due to Kenora 20, an active wildfire in the northwest which is now 32,000 hectares large. Evacuees are staying in Niagara Falls, Winnipeg and Kenora. A number of restrictions remain in effect in the region, including a restricted fire zone, travel bans and limits on access to certain lakes and waterways, as the wildland fire hazard remains high to extreme. "We would ask that residents obey the restricted fire zone at this time, when we have a lot of our resources engaged in emerging situations. We don't need any more human-caused fires on the landscape," Marchand said.
CBC
22-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Brush fires keep crews busy in Thunder Bay, Ont., as conditions remain dry
Several brush fires west of Thunder Bay broke out late Wednesday afternoon A cluster of brush fires west of Thunder Bay, Ont., kept crews busy on Wednesday afternoon into the evening. Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Platoon Chief Jo Rucchin said in a news release that the department began getting several 911 calls around 3 p.m. ET. People were reporting fires "along the rail line extending from the Thunder Bay Airport area to beyond Twin City Crossroads." "Thunder Bay Fire Rescue immediately deployed multiple pumper crews to respond to the fires, prioritizing the protection of residential properties along the affected corridor," the news release said. "Crews worked swiftly to contain and suppress multiple fire sites stretching from the Airport to Twin City Crossroads." It took five hours to get the fires under control, with Thunder Bay Fire Rescue working with Ministry of Natural Resources crews and the Oliver Paipoonge Fire Department. No homes or buildings were destroyed, according to the news release. Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) said CL415 waterbombers were used to help suppress a fire known as Thunder Bay 9, which was burning south of the airport. 'Fires can get away quickly' One of the brush fires just north of Arthur Street West and 25th Side Road was not far from Sarjeant Propane supply company. "Crews on scene right now are just mopping up," Shane Zimmer, captain with the Oliver Paipoonge Fire Department, told CBC on the site of the fire around 8:30 p.m. ET. "We took a little while to get the whole fire shut down. But it looks like it's pretty much done now." Zimmer said he doesn't know how the fire started, and that it will be investigated. However, he said it's a good reminder to be extremely cautious right now. "Fires can get away quite quickly," he said. All of Oliver Paipoonge township is currently under a fire ban. Road closures and cancellations Late in the afternoon, the Thunder Bay Police Service had advised people to avoid the Oliver Paipoonge municipality as crews responded to a fire between Arthur Street West and Highway 11/17. They were also asking people to avoid Arthur Street West between the 20th Side Road and the Highway 11/17 junction. Thunder City Speedway closed for the evening and rescheduled races for Thursday evening. Meanwhile, several large forest fires remain out of control in northwestern Ontario, with high to extreme conditions in some western parts of the province.
CBC
22-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Brush fires keep crews busy in Thunder Bay, Ont., as conditions remain dry
A cluster of brush fires west of Thunder Bay, Ont., kept crews busy on Wednesday afternoon into the evening. Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Platoon Chief Jo Rucchin said in a news release that the department began getting several 911 calls around 3 p.m. ET. People were reporting fires "along the rail line extending from the Thunder Bay Airport area to beyond Twin City Crossroads." "Thunder Bay Fire Rescue immediately deployed multiple pumper crews to respond to the fires, prioritizing the protection of residential properties along the affected corridor," the news release said. "Crews worked swiftly to contain and suppress multiple fire sites stretching from the Airport to Twin City Crossroads." It took five hours to get the fires under control, with Thunder Bay Fire Rescue working with Ministry of Natural Resources crews and the Oliver Paipoonge Fire Department. No homes or buildings were destroyed, according to the news release. Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) said CL415 waterbombers were used to help suppress a fire known as Thunder Bay 9, which was burning south of the airport. 'Fires can get away quickly' One of the brush fires just north of Arthur Street West and 25th Side Road was not far from Sarjeant Propane supply company. "Crews on scene right now are just mopping up," Shane Zimmer, captain with the Oliver Paipoonge Fire Department, told CBC on the site of the fire around 8:30 p.m. ET. "We took a little while to get the whole fire shut down. But it looks like it's pretty much done now." Zimmer said he doesn't know how the fire started, and that it will be investigated. However, he said it's a good reminder to be extremely cautious right now. "Fires can get away quite quickly," he said. All of Oliver Paipoonge township is currently under a fire ban. Road closures and cancellations Late in the afternoon, the Thunder Bay Police Service had advised people to avoid the Oliver Paipoonge municipality as crews responded to a fire between Arthur Street West and Highway 11/17. They were also asking people to avoid Arthur Street West between the 20th Side Road and the Highway 11/17 junction. Thunder City Speedway closed for the evening and rescheduled races for Thursday evening.
CBC
19-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Northwestern Ontario First Nation still facing fire threat despite cooler weather
The chief of Wabaseemoong Independent Nations says his community is still under threat from forest fires, despite the cooler weather this weekend. "Once the rain stops and the warmer temperatures come back to the region, it's just going to flare the fire up and possibly be worse than what it was before," Chief Waylon Scott said. The community had to act quickly last Wednesday as the fires approached Wabaseemoong. "We literally had hours to evacuate," he said. Kenora 20, which is burning just west of the community, was about 31,000 hectares in size and not under control as of Monday afternoon. Kenora 14, meanwhile, is burning north of Wabaseemoong; as of Monday afternoon, that fire was just over 1,600 hectares in size, and not under control. Chris Marchand, fire information officer for the Kenora 20 fire with Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) said nore than 90 firefighters from British Columbia are assisting Ontario FireRangers in suppression efforts, and structural protection is ongoing in Wabaseemoong. In total, he said, there are now more than 200 firefighters working on the Kenora 20 fire, along with 17 helicopters. "That's certainly a a real focus on getting some meaningful firefighting done on these perimeter areas, so that as the fire behaviour does rise in the area, as we have drier weather over the next few days, we can prevent these areas from flaring up and becoming a problem once again," Marchand said. He said there have been some structural losses due to the fire, but he didn't have details. '100 foot flames' seen from the community Scott said people could see "100 foot flames" from the community. "It was scary at times, especially hearing the fire," he said, "Like you can actually hear the roar of the fire from across the river." It took a few days to sort out where community members would stay until the fire is under control, but he said several government officials and other First Nations have stepped up to help. Roughly 800 community members in total will be staying in Niagara Falls, where they will have access to nurse practitioners and eventually a doctor. A smaller number of evacuees are in Kenora and Winnipeg. Scott said this is now the third evacuation he has experienced since becoming chief, and he acknowledged that the emergencies and evacuations have an emotional toll on the community. "It's every spring moving forward, I believe they're always going to be on the edge of their seat with the fire season." Some community members return home While most residents have been evacuated, some are choosing to stay in the community despite a serious threat from a nearby forest fire, the chief said. "As of (Sunday) morning ... the number has gone up in terms of who's remaining in the community," Wabaseemoong Chief Waylon Scott said during a virtual media event. "Originally there were six community members that were left." "Now we're up to about 17 or 18 people that have chosen to come back home," Scott said. "That's despite informing them that the fire is is still a serious threat." And while most pets have also been evacuated, some dogs couldn't be taken out of Wabaseemoong, Scott said. "There are crews, volunteers that go out and feed the dogs," he said; dog food is being shipped into the community. Scott said so far, there hasn't been any damage to any structures in the community. Overall, as of Monday afternoon, there were seven active wildfires in the northwest region, said Alison Bezubiak, fire information office with AFFES. "Of those fires, two are under control, one is being observed and four are not under control," she said. "One new fire has been confirmed today and that has since been called out." The fires of concern include Kenora 20 and 14, as well as Fort Frances 4 and Sioux Lookout 3, Bezubiak said. Fort Frances 4 is north of Crystal Lake, and was listed as being nearly 3,600 hectares in size and not under control. Sioux Lookout 3, meanwhile, is north of Savant Lake, and was about 1,850 hectares on Monday afternoon. It's also not under control, Bezubiak said. "Fortunately, very little growth has been recorded on these fires over the past few days, and minimal fire behaviour has been observed as well," she said. That, Bezubiak said, was due to cooler, wet weather in the last few days. "These cooler temperatures and the precipitation that came with it did bring some relief to that hot dry weather that we were experiencing last week, and the escalated fire behaviour that came with it," she said. "This has allowed crews to make progress with their ongoing suppression efforts.: "But we are now entering a bit of a drying trend, and we're already starting to see that hazard start to rebound sort of around the the western side of the region," Bezubiak said. "That could result in us seeing some more increased fire behaviour on these active fires." Access to the area around each of those fires remains restricted due to orders issued by the MNR. "We would ask that residents in affected areas of please continue to obey the evacuation order and travel restrictions," Marchand said. "While we're temporarily seeing a bit of a lull in fire activity, the fire is still there, albeit in a less active state, and it can still pose a threat as conditions begin to dry out."
