Update on forest fires and evacuations of First Nations in Northwestern Ontario
Update on fires and evacuations in Northwestern Ontario
Tuesday, August 2, 2011 – Sioux Lookout, ON - Over the weekend many communities started the repatriation process, working with Emergency Management Ontario (EMO) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). EMO estimates that all residents will return home by August 3, based on current plans.
MNR will continually evaluate and assess the fire situation and smoke hazard to ensure communities are safe for return.
As of July 31, 2582 residents have returned home, with 1009 waiting for repatriation.
Residents Returned Home (2,582 total thus far)
- Kingfisher 170 – from Ottawa*
- Sandy Lake 1,213 – from Arthur, Greenstone, Wawa, Moosonee, Ignace, Sioux Lookout, Thunder Bay
- Keewaywin 182 – from Greenstone
- North Spirit Lake 200 – from Greenstone
- Koocheching 20 – from Dryden
- Cat Lake 363 – from Dryden, Matachewan and Kapuskasing
- Eabametoong/Fort Hope 281 – from Greenstone
- Mishkeegogamang 153 – from Dryden and Sioux Lookout
* Note: This number includes four Kasabonika residents who were in Kingfisher at the time of the evacuation. They have been returned to their own community.
Quick Facts from Emergency Management Ontario
Number of fires active - 131
Hectares to date – 575,000
Fire personnel engaged - Over 2,000
Out-of-province personnel - 644
Number of confirmed evacuees to date – 1,009
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NW Ont. fire evacuees continue to return home; about 1,000 remain in host communities
By: The Canadian Press - 08/2/2011
TORONTO - About 1,000 residents forced from their northwestern Ontario homes by forest fires still haven't received the all-clear to return.
Provincial officials say 418 residents were expected to be returned home yesterday, bringing the number repatriated to 2,582.
Communities fully repatriated include Fort Hope First Nation, Mishkeegogamang First Nation, Cat Lake First Nation, Koocheching First Nation, North Spirit Lake First Nation, Kasabonika Lake First Nation.
The ministry of natural resources says there were 25 new fires in the northwest yesterday, raising the number of active fires to 131 that have burned 575,000 hectares.
More than 2,000 firefighters, including 586 from out of province, are fighting the blazes backed by about 100 aircraft.