Kasabonika Lake First Nation pauses further evacuations as wildfire conditions stabilize

Nearly 600 evacuees from Kasabonika Lake First Nation remain in Toronto as of Thursday afternoon, Cbc reported. The remote northwestern Ontario community declared a state of emergency over the weekend after escalating wildfire activity and began flying out its most vulnerable residents Sunday evening.

Chief Matthias Anderson said 548 evacuees are still in Toronto and 37 more are en route from Thunder Bay.

The group, which represents nearly half the First Nation’s population, consists largely of elders, children, prenatal mothers and people with medical conditions. It is the community’s first evacuation in 20 years. Kasabonika Lake First Nation has paused further evacuations after wildfire hazard conditions stabilized.

Anderson noted the situation changes hourly and described the past days as stressful before adding that conditions have calmed. More than six dozen wildfires are active across Ontario’s northwest region. Of those, 21 are not under control, seven are being held, four are under control and the remainder are under observation, Cbc reported.

Recent rainfall has given fire crews some relief in the far north, though thunderstorms have generated thousands of lightning strikes across the region, said Chris Marchand, a fire information officer with Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services.

Precipitation has been highly localized, leaving some areas wet and others dry. The largest fire in the northwest, Sioux Lookout 1, covers more than 17,200 hectares and began May 30.

Near Kasabonika Lake, Nipigon 16 measures more than 1,470 hectares. Sioux Lookout 21, located nine kilometres south of Wunnumin Lake First Nation’s airport, is shifting away from that community, Chief Archie Wabasse said. Anderson said he has learned from the older generation during the response and expressed gratitude for support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Emergency Management Ontario.