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CBC
4 days ago
- General
- CBC
First Nation chiefs share safety concerns amid wildfire evacuations in northwestern Ontario
Social Sharing As wildfire evacuees from northwestern Ontario settle in at their accommodations in the southern part of the province, community chiefs are raising concerns about what happens next. Wabaseemoong Independent Nations was the first community in the region to issue an evacuation notice on May 13 because of the area's largest fire, Kenora 20, which spans more than 35,000 hectares. About 450 members of the Ojibway First Nation, located north of Kenora, are staying in Niagara Falls. Next, Deer Lake First Nation called for a community evacuation on Wednesday due to the nearby fire Red Lake 12, which is now more than 17,900 hectares large. Nearly 900 members of the remote Oji-Cree community have been brought to Toronto. Chief Leonard Mamakeesic said the evacuation has gone smoothly, all things considered. Community members took Dash 8 planes to Thunder Bay before being transported on larger planes to Toronto, he said. "I try to be more on the positive side," Mamakeesic said in an interview with CBC News Monday afternoon. "To be grateful that we have hotels at the moment; there are reserves in Manitoba that are staying in gymnasiums." Webequie First Nation declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to a wildfire known as Nipigon 5, which is more than 7,500 hectares large. Evacuees are being sent to Barrie, about a one-hour drive north of Toronto. However, Chief Cornelius Wabasse said a shortage of aircraft due to high demands in other communities affected by wildfires delayed the remote Ojibway First Nation's evacuation. "There is a shortage of planes and also other resources," Wabasse told CBC News in an interview Monday morning. The first planes were expected to arrive in the community Monday and bring about 200 of the First Nation's most vulnerable down south. CBC News has reached out to the provincial government for comment on Webequie's concerns about a shortage of planes, and is awaiting a response. Concerns around culture shock, outside influences While Wabasse's main goal is keeping community members safe while they wait for planes out of Webequie, Mamakeesic says his top priority is maintaining security in Toronto for the members of Deer Lake First Nation. Fewer than 1,500 people live in Deer Lake. Like Webequie, it's only accessible by plane or winter road. Transitioning from life in the remote north to Canada's most populous city "is a cultural shock," Mamakeesic said. He's worried about the high traffic levels near the hotel, as well as pressures on community members to consume alcohol or drugs because they're "easier down here to get," he said. Two years ago, Deer Lake members were evacuated to Cornwall because of wildfires. A lot of lessons were learned through that experience, Mamakeesic said, including the importance of keeping community members engaged. "I'm trying to integrate my workers into what's already set up to make it easier. That's a big lesson I'm learning from my past evacuations," he said. For example, while ISN Maskwa, an Indigenous emergency operations centre, is providing security services for evacuees in Toronto, Mamakeesic is trying to get his own community members to work with them, so evacuees can deal with familiar faces. Overall, though, he's been encouraging people to make the most out of their time in Toronto while they wait for the all-clear to return home. "I think it's going well," he said. "I always tell my council, it reflects on us to be calm and if we work collaboratively, then it filters down to our people."
CBC
22-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
High, extreme fire hazards remain in northwestern Ontario as wildfires rage on
Wabaseemoong evacuees still hundreds of kilometres from home due to Kenora 20 Caption: Laura Fisher and her three-year-old granddaughter, Cady. The family is staying in Niagara Falls, Ont., due to an evacuation order placed in Wabaseemoong last week because of Kenora 20. The wildfire is now more than 31,000 hectares large. (Submitted by Laura Fisher) 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. "People are kind over here, welcoming," she said. "I'm still praying for the community."
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."
CTV News
18-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Wildfires force more than 800 to evacuate northwestern Ontario First Nation
Smoke hangs above the treeline near dusk blocking out the setting sun at forest fires near Killarney, Ont., Tuesday, July 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Thornhill 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.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2025. The Canadian Press
