Latest news with #DeerLake
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
07-05-2025
- CBC
Left out of the loop: Labradorians say they're not happy about new air travel loop
Isolated, excluded and out of the loop. Torngat Mountains MHA Lela Evans says that's how Labradorians feel about the new PAL Airlines loop between St. John's, Gander and Deer Lake. Evans says it adds insult to injury for those struggling with essential travel. Heather Gillis reports.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Deer Lake Red Wings win Herder Memorial Trophy for first time in 20 years
The Deer Lake Red Wings won the Herder Memorial Trophy on Saturday night. The Red Wings defeated the Clarenville Caribous 4-1 in Clarenville to win Game 4 and sweep the best-of-seven series for the top prize in Newfoundland and Labrador senior hockey. Deer Lake's championship included a triple-overtime win in Game 1 win. It was the third straight year that Deer Lake had made it to the final, but the team's first championship since 2005. Red Wings goalie Bryan Gillis was named series MVP after allowing just four goals in four games. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.
CBC
28-03-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Clarenville, Deer Lake to face off for N.L. hockey's 'holy grail' in 90th Herder final
Newfoundland's top hockey prize is back up for grabs, as the Clarenville Ford Caribous and Deer Lake Red Wings face off for the 90th Herder Memorial Trophy starting on Friday. The trophy, first presented in 1935, is awarded to the island's best senior hockey team. It's traditionally an east coast versus west coast match-up — in this case, the winner of the Avalon East Senior Hockey League versus the winner of the Central-West Senior Hockey League. Friday will mark the first time the two teams have faced each other for the Herder in 14 years. "I expect it to be a very, very close series," Ivan Hapgood, the Caribous' general manager, told CBC News Thursday. "We had many a trips there in the day. But listen, really looking forward to getting back to it. That's what it's all about." Deer Lake reached the final by defeating Grand Falls-Windsor and Stephenville. This year marks the third straight year they'll compete for the Herder, losing to the Southern Shore Breakers in 2023 and the St. John's Caps in 2024. "The eastern league obviously comes with quite a bit of competition, but this team is set to take this on," Deer Lake Mayor Mike Goosney said Thursday. "This is going to be a third run, and we're optimistic for a different outcome." Clarenville lost their first four regular season games and finished fifth in the Avalon East League, but put it together in the playoffs with series victories over Conception Bay South, Harbour Grace and the Southern Shore. "Anytime you go 0-4 in a 20-game schedule, you know, it's never easy to bounce back," Hapgood said. "I never did consider us a fifth-place team. I thought we were as good as any in the league right from the start. It was just a matter of getting things together." Ninety years later, Hapgood says the Herder is still what every player in Newfoundland aims for. "The Herder is hockey in Newfoundland. That's it, that's what it's all about," he said. "[People] consider the Herder the holy grail of hockey in Newfoundland." Games 1 and 2 will be held in Deer Lake on Friday and Saturday before the series moves to Clarenville next weekend. Goosney said passion for senior hockey and the Red Wings runs deep in Deer Lake, and expects the energy inside the Hodder Memorial Arena to be high on Friday. "I think the roof's going to be just nearly lifting off, and that's an understatement," he said. Goosney said some friendly competition is also underway with Clarenville Mayor John Pickett. They've made a bet for the losing team's mayor to wear the winning team's jersey at a future council meeting.
