Over 3,000 people evacuated in northern Ontario due to wildfires

Over 3,000 people evacuated in northern Ontario due to wildfires
Over 3,000 people evacuated in northern Ontario due to wildfires
Anonim

More than 3,000 people have been evacuated from five districts in northern Ontario due to ongoing wildfires that are spreading across the region, provincial officials confirmed.

Poplar Hill and Deer Lake settlements have been fully evacuated, and disadvantaged residents have been relocated from Pikangikum, North Spirit Lake and Cat Lake.

"All evacuation requests have been approved by the province," Ontario Attorney General Sylvia Jones and Secretary Greg Rickford said in a joint statement.

"More than 600 firefighters continue their efforts to contain and suppress fires in the northwest, using all available ground and air equipment to protect people and property."

A number of indigenous territories and municipalities have declared emergencies in response to the rapidly evolving situation. According to government officials, five indigenous peoples and one municipality have declared emergencies due to the threat of fire and smoke, while two indigenous nations and five municipalities have declared emergencies to accommodate the evacuees.

Ontario currently has 151 wildfires, 138 of which are in the northwest region and 13 in the northeast.

Some of the noteworthy fires include a fire called SLK 060, which is located about eight kilometers west of Cat Lake First Nation and is currently uncontrolled, and a fire called RED 065, which is located about 6, 13 kilometers west of Poplar Hill First Nation and also uncontrolled.

To combat wildfires, the Ontario government provides ground and air support such as firefighters, extinguishing equipment, helicopters and CL415 water bombers.

Currently, 16 settlements receive evacuees from the First Nations of northern Ontario. These include: Cochran, Sudbury, Kenora, Kapuskasing, NAV Center (Cornwall), Thunder Bay, Timmins, Sioux Lookout, Peel, Salt Ste Marie, Hirst, Pickle Lake, Lac Seul First Nation, Dryden, King Township and Six Nations.

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