Latest news with #Kenora
CBC
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Evacuation order issued for Sandy Lake First Nation as wildfire spreads
An evacuation order was issued on Saturday for Sandy Lake First Nation as a wildfire moved toward the northwestern Ontario community. Sandy Lake officials issued the order after the fire, known as Red Lake 12, was spotted moving northward toward the community in the province's Kenora district. Sandy Lake First Nation, a fly-in community, is located about 600 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, Ont. Ontario Forest Fires says in a Facebook post that community officials are asking residents to gather at the southeast corner of Sandy Lake, where fire management staff are mobilizing boats. Red Lake 12 has grown to a size of more than 66,000 hectares in the region, and it is not yet under control. Smoke from the fire has pervaded many parts of the province, leading to air quality statements and warnings. The latest information about wildfire activity in Ontario can be found on the province's interactive fire map.
CTV News
25-05-2025
- CTV News
Treaty 3 police, OPP seize $14K in drugs, arrest 2 in northern Ont.
The Treaty Three Police Service along with Ontario Provincial Police seized 144 grams of suspected cocaine, $100 in cash, a cellphone, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia during a proactive traffic stop in Kenora, Ont., following a four month joint investigation. (Treaty Three Police Service/Facebook)
CBC
23-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Province pledges $50M for All Nations hospital project
A planned new hospital in the Kenora region has received a major influx of cash from the province. The province announced $50 million in funding for the proposed All Nations hospital, which would replace the Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH), and is being developed by LWDH and the Kenora Chiefs Advisory. "Back in the early 2000s, we were planning a new hospital at that time, recognizing that our hospital was becoming technically obsolete and really needed to be replaced," said Cheryl O'Flaherty, CEO of LWDH. "We are firmly in that opinion now, and the government has supported us." "We've outgrown the footprint," she said. "We've got some fragility in our infrastructure. We'd like to expand our program and services ... to enhance delivery of surgical and diagnostic services, further enhance the outpatient services that we provide to the communities, as well as expanding and the growing Indigenous patient relations department." Speaking at a virtual media event on Thursday, O'Flaherty said the planned new hospital would be larger, and the hope is to have other heath care providers also located on the property. "Personally, it really falls on the cusp of reconciliation, on kind of what we can all do together when we work together in collaboration," said Wauzhushk Onigum Nation Chief Chris Skead, who's also secretary/treasurer of the Kenora Chiefs Advisory. "We're very proud to celebrate this incredible accomplishment," he said. "We wouldn't have gotten here without the advocacy of our chiefs and the strong messaging that the healthcare landscape needs to be changed." Alison Wesley-James, LWDH vice-president of operations and capital planning, said the next steps will involve working with Infrastructure Ontario "to jointly decide upon a project delivery model, and Infrastructure Ontario is going to support us in completing due diligence at the site and procuring the necessary consultants to move into detailed design." The project delivery model will determine exactly how long the hospital will take to complete, she said, adding that it's expected to take six to eight years in total. The next three or three-and-a-half years will see the project move through its second phase, which will involve detailed designs, and getting construction documents ready for tender, with construction taking another three or so years,
CBC
21-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
High, extreme fire hazards remain in northwestern Ontario as wildfires rage on
Social Sharing As ashes were falling from the sky, Laura Fisher says she tried to stay calm as she packed up her family's belongings — for the sake of her son, spouse and three-year-old granddaughter. Fisher is among hundreds of evacuees from Wabaseemoong, a First Nation in northwestern Ontario placed under an evacuation order last week due to a nearby wildfire. The fire, known as Kenora 20, is more than 31,000 hectares large. It's one of four fires of note in the region. "I was scared. At the same time, I tried to calm myself down for the sake of my kids and myself," said Fisher. The family is staying in a hotel in Niagara Falls, more than 1,900 kilometres from home. About 800 people from Wabaseemoong are in the southern Ontario city, with smaller numbers in Kenora and Winnipeg. Fisher said her family first drove to Kenora to register as evacuees. There, they spent a night at Fisher's daughter's house before travelling west to Winnipeg. After that, they were told they had to go to Niagara Falls. "It was tiring," she said. "But we're OK now." There are 10 active wildfires in northwestern Ontario. Of those, seven are not under control, two are under control and one is being observed. The four most concerning fires are: Kenora 20, which is more than 31,000 hectares large. Kenora 14, which is more than 1,600 hectares large. Fort Frances 4, which is nearly 3,600 hectares large. Sioux Lookout 3, which is more than 1,800 hectares large. "Firefighting personnel from Ontario and British Columbia are working on Kenora 20 and Kenora 14, with crews establishing hose lines, cutting helipads, and establishing values protection around communities," Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) said in an update Tuesday night. There have been 79 wildfires reported in Ontario since the season began on April 1. Meanwhile, there were 65 wildfires reported altogether in the province in 2024. "It's only mid-May, and to have evacuations during this time is very concerning," said Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa. "That disruption of the community, that disruption of the family, that disruption of care that happens — we need to be able to have wraparound services for people that are evacuated." 'I'm still praying for the community' A number of restrictions remain in effect in the region as a result of the wildfires, including a restricted fire zone, travel bans and limits on access to certain lakes and waterways. AFFES said on its website that the fire hazard ranges from low to moderate on the eastern side of the region. However, it said, "[t]he western half is observing a high to extreme hazard, with areas of high hazard developing in the Red Lake and Kenora fire management sectors." "Despite recent precipitation and cooler temperatures, forested areas remain extremely dry." Just outside of Thunder Bay, a brush and structure fire was reported late Wednesday afternoon at Twin City Crossroads between Highway 11-17 and Arthur Street. Thunder City Speedway has cancelled Wednesday night's races as a result. People can view the province's interactive forest fire map online for more information about wildfires near them. Meanwhile, in Niagara Falls, Fisher said she and her family are trying to make the most of the situation.
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."
