Latest news with #NorthSpiritLake
CBC
12-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Over 2,000 people expected to evacuate from northwestern Ontario First Nations due to wildfires
Social Sharing Evacuations of Pikangikum and North Spirit Lake First Nations in northwestern Ontario are expected to begin Friday, as out-of-control wildfires burn near the remote communities. In a statement released Thursday evening, Ontario Provincial Police say about 2,000 people from Pikangikum are expected to relocate to Mississauga and Toronto areas beginning Saturday. About 4,000 people live in the First Nation. The wildfire burning near the community, called Red Lake 62, is covering about 26,000 hectares of land, according to provincial fire officials. Pikangikum, located more than 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ont., has been experiencing poor air quality due to the wildfire situation in both Ontario and Manitoba, along with extreme heat. An air quality warning remains in effect for Pikangikum as of Friday morning, along with Ear Falls, Red Lake, Poplar Hill and Sandy Lake First Nations. As much of the far north faces smoky conditions, three other First Nations in the region are also threatened by area forest fires. Spike in wildfire activity reported in northwestern Ontario In a post on social media, the Chief of North Spirit Lake said evacuation efforts are beginning Friday morning, with evacuees flying to Thunder Bay and Toronto. The fire burning near the First Nation is covering over 11,000 hectares of land. Provincial fire crews are also focusing their efforts on a cluster of fires burning near MacDowell Lake First Nation, along with a fire burning near Cat Lake First Nation. The evacuations and flurry of wildfire activity comes after a brief period of reprieve on the landscape in northwestern Ontario. Over the last two weeks, dozens of fires were being reported in the region but most were being observed or held by provincial fire crews. The month of June was a particularly active time for wildfires in northwestern Ontario, and multiple First Nations were forced to evacuate. Last week, Sandy Lake First Nation began sending its members back home after weeks of being displaced, however those efforts were paused Thursday due to the escalating wildfire situation in the region. Officials from the First Nation said all available aircrafts have been put on standby for "other emergency operations." Hundreds of people from Sandy Lake First Nation are still displaced, according to a statement shared by the First Nation on Thursday. Ontario crews working 'around the clock' Maria Votsis, a spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources, told CBC News in an email early Friday afternoon that provincial crews are actively responding to the fires around Pikangikum and North Spirit Lake First Nations. "Wildland fire management staff are working around the clock to protect these communities through aerial suppression, ground operations, and structural protection efforts. Our highly trained FireRangers, supported by a fleet of specialized aircraft and advanced technology, are among the best in the world," Votsis said.
CBC
12-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
First planes carrying wildfire evacuees from northwestern Ontario head to Toronto area
Social Sharing Phillip Campbell has been closely watching the skies to see which way the wind blows — and whether it will keep nearby wildfires at bay. The elder and head councillor of North Spirit Lake First Nation in northwestern Ontario is among roughly 240 evacuees travelling south to escape Red Lake 62, an out-of-control blaze that's more than 26,000 hectares large. The first planes out of the remote Oji-Cree community landed in Thunder Bay Friday afternoon. From there, evacuees — consisting of some of the community's most vulnerable — will be flown to Toronto. Fewer than 500 people live in North Spirit Lake, located in Treaty 5 territory. As a passenger aboard the first plane, Campbell said he's worried about those left waiting for the next available aircraft. "If it's windy from there, the fire will go to North Spirit really fast and that's dangerous," Campbell said. "I don't know what's going to happen to them if it actually comes down to the wire." South of North Spirit Lake, one of the region's largest remote First Nations — Pikangikum — is preparing for its evacuation starting Saturday. About 2,000 evacuees from the Ojibway community in Treaty 5 have been identified, and are being sent to Toronto and Mississauga. Ben Curtis, inspector of operational support for the Ontario Provincial Police in the northwest region, spent Friday fielding calls from Pikangikum. "They are compiling lists in collaboration with our provincial liaison team that's on the ground, and that's really to focus on the Level 1 and Level 2 evacuations," Curtis said. "[They're] focusing on a little bit more of the vulnerable population that are in Pikangikum — those that are a little less mobile, those that have some kind of increased needs such as medical concerns and things like that." A much smaller community, MacDowell Lake, has also issued an evacuation alert and is urging members to leave. Fewer than 100 people live there. There are nearly 50 wildfires burning across the region at various stages of control. The largest, Red Lake 12, has reached more than 195,000 hectares, setting a record for most hectares burned in Ontario. "Ongoing drought conditions, low relative humidity, and a lack of precipitation through the northern fire management sectors have contributed to extreme fire behaviour and continued growth on active fires," fire information officer Alison Bezubiak told CBC News in an email Friday. "More precipitation is expected through the weekend, but we will have a better idea of how that rain will impact the wildland fire hazard and fire behaviour once it materializes." 'Everybody has to go' The office of Jill Dunlop, Ontario's minister of emergency preparedness and response, provided an emailed statement to CBC News on Friday about the government's support for evacuees. "Our government is working closely with local communities, First Nations leadership, and emergency partners to co-ordinate safe evacuations in North Spirit Lake First Nation and [assist] with the relocation of vulnerable residents from Pikangikum," it says. "We remain in close contact with our provincial and federal partners to make sure people receive the care, transportation, and support they need." Still, those in transit are feeling the weight of uncertainty at hand. "It's difficult when you travel from home," said Homer Meekis, a band councillor for North Spirit Lake, who arrived in Thunder Bay on Friday with his children and grandchildren. "Staying in a hotel with family members, it is going to be really crowded and stuff, and people are used to their own places." North Spirit Lake prepared for a community evacuation about a month ago, but at that time, the fire activity eased enough to allow people to stay, explained evacuee Edna Rae-Harper, who is Chief Brandon Rae's aunt. "I just wanted to stay home, but nobody can stay home because everybody has to go," she said. She was told at least six planes were expected to bring people to Thunder Bay Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, Sandy Lake First Nation — which began to bring its 2,000 wildfire evacuees home last Friday — has had to pause a number of flights due to demands for aircraft in other fire-affected communities. Though five private flights out of Thunder Bay have been arranged by the Oji-Cree community for the weekend, as well as a small plane in Kapuskasing, all evacuee flights from Barrie and Peterborough have been put on hold, the First Nation said in an update on Facebook Friday. Ontario FireRangers 'among the best in the world' Air quality warnings and special air quality statements remain in effect in much of northwestern Ontario as the fire hazard ranges across the region. "Following widespread rain overnight and this morning, the wildland fire hazard is low to moderate across the majority of the northwest region except for the Red Lake and Nipigon fire management sectors," said Bezubiak. "A high hazard remains through the central and eastern portions of the Nipigon sector. In Red Lake, the hazard is high through the central and western portions of the sector, with an area of extreme hazard around Poplar Hill." Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources says it's all hands on deck to keep communities safe. "Wildland fire management staff are working around the clock to protect these communities through aerial suppression, ground operations, and structural protection efforts," said Mary Votsis, a spokesperson for the department, in an emailed statement Friday.
CTV News
08-07-2025
- CTV News
Suspected cocaine, oxycodone worth $95K seized in northern Ont.
A Nishnawbe Aski Police Service vehicle is shown in this undated image. (File photo/Nishnawbe Aski Police Service/Facebook) A significant drug bust in North Spirit Lake First Nation has resulted in the seizure of suspected cocaine, oxycodone and cash with a combined estimated value exceeding $110,000. The Nishnawbe Aski Police Service executed a search warrant at a residential property on July 6 following an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking in the Indigenous community. Upon entering the home, officers arrested a female suspect without incident. A subsequent search uncovered suspected cocaine, oxycodone pills and more than $15,500 in cash, along with drug trafficking paraphernalia. 'The drugs alone have an estimated street value of nearly $95,000,' police said in a news release. 'This seizure is a significant step in our ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking within Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities.' Nishnawbe Aski Police Service A member of the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service is shown sitting behind the wheel of a police vehicle in this undated promotional image. (File photo/Nishnawbe Aski Police Service) Two additional suspects were arrested the same day in connection with the investigation. In total, three people now face charges, including a 31-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man from North Spirit Lake First Nation, as well as a 23-year-old woman from Fort Hope First Nation. They have been charged with two counts of drug trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. All three accused have been released with conditions and are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.
