THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay is preparing to receive another 230 people from Sandy Lake First Nation over the course of today after receiving 72 forest fire evacuees yesterday. The forest fire conditions in the region are set at extreme. “FireRangers in northwestern Ontario will remain on high alert as well as air attack personnel. The fire hazard is moderate for Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances and Thunder Bay and high to extreme for all northern areas such as Red Lake, Pickle Lake, Sioux Lookout, Geraldton, Nipigon and areas in the far north”.
The City’s response is a coordinated effort in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross, Aboriginal Affairs Northern Development Canada, Community Care Access Centre, Local Health Integration Network, Salvation Army and Emergency Management Ontario.
Working closely with Emergency Management Ontario representatives, the City will continue to monitor the situation and contingency planning is ongoing should the request for additional support arise. A cost recovery agreement is in place between Aboriginal Affairs Northern Development Canada and the City.
Sandy Lake is a fly-in First Nation community located 600 km northwest of Thunder Bay. The community has a population of approximately 2,650.