Forest fire threatening Pikangikum First Nation grows as evacuation continues

By Emerald Bensadoun
The Canadian Press in Global TV News
July 11, 2019
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada East

A forest fire threatening a First Nation in northwestern Ontario has grown in size, officials said Thursday as more flights were planned to airlift residents out of the community. Members of Pikangikum First Nation have been leaving their homes since a full evacuation was ordered on Monday, although departures via buses and boats were put on hold Wednesday because of a lack of places to send evacuees. Saskatchewan has since said it would take in up to 2,000 displaced residents. The Ministry of Natural Resources said the fire – dubbed Red Lake Fire 39 – has now grown to more than 507 square kilometres in size, which is larger than Quebec City. …Meanwhile, Red Lake Fire 23, a forest fire raging eight kilometres south of the community of Keewaywin, has grown to 926 square kilometres.

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