Pikangikum faces 2nd fire evacuation

First Nation leader says aircraft standing by to move the most vulnerable amid smoke alert

PIKANGIKUM, ONT. — For the second time in just over a month, residents of Pikangikum First Nation in northwestern Ontario are being asked to leave due to smoke from nearby wildfires.

Officials in the remote community say vulnerable residents, including the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory problems are being flown out, along with their families.

In a series of Facebook posts on Saturday, Chief Amanda Sainnawap said two planes were available at the local airport to move the most vulnerable.

More than 2,000 community members were forced from their homes in late May and early June, with many only returning a few weeks ago.

According to the most recent information from Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the largest nearby wildfire as of Saturday afternoon was Red Lake 39 at more than 400 square kilometres.

The Department of National Defence said it has responded to a request from the provincial government for help with the evacuation effort.

A department spokesperson said Sunday that 20 Army Rangers and a Hercules aircraft have been assigned to help.

“The CC-130J Hercules aircraft is not expected to fly into the community to facilitate evacuation efforts until provincial authorities confirm they are ready to begin moving residents,” Ashley Lemire said.

Meanwhile, the forest fire heading toward Keewaywin First Nation, 140 kilometres northeast of Pikangikum, continues to grow.

The province’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry said Saturday the fire, dubbed Red Lake 23, had grown more than 100 square kilometres since Friday to a about 720 square kilometres. It was burning just eight kilometres south of the remote Indigenous community.

Half of Keewaywin’s roughly 450 residents were flown out to Timmins on Friday, according to former chief Joe Meekis.

The other half were sent to Sioux Lookout, where local officials said the town is at capacity.

Sioux Lookout manager of corporate services Brian MacKinnon says all evacuees are being held at a hotel, and a local restaurant is providing all of the meals.

MacKinnon said the evacuees had settled in and the town was organizing recreational activities for the children.

Environment Canada issued alerts for air quality in Sioux Lookout, Sandy Lake, Red Lake, Pickle Lake, Kenora, Dryden and Fort Frances.