Favourable winds, suppression efforts keep large forest fire away from northwestern Ontario First Nation

CBC News

· Posted: May 12, 2025 6:58 AM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

Favourable winds and provincial firefighting efforts person led to the cancellation of a signifier 1 evacuation for Wabaseemoong Independent Nations arsenic a ample wood occurrence burns nearby. 

The fire, known arsenic Kenora 14, was discovered connected Thursday 12 kilometres from Wabaseemoong. It has since grown to much than 1,000 hectares successful size, and is not nether control.

"We had different update gathering (Sunday) morning, and it looked promising that we won't person to bash immoderate evacuation," said Waylon Scott, main of Wabaseemoong. "We were astatine the midst of doing a signifier 1 evacuation, which is fundamentally the susceptible population."

Scott said the evacuation has present been enactment connected hold.

Chris Marchand, occurrence accusation serviceman with Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES), said southerly winds person kept the occurrence from advancing immoderate person to Wabaseemoong, and helped support fume retired of the community.

As of Sunday, Marchand said, determination were 11 occurrence ranger crews with respective much connected the way, and that they were focused connected the confederate and occidental areas of the occurrence closest to the community.

"They're getting immoderate assistance from 4 helicopters, with an further 3 craft connected the mode ... which volition assistance with bucketing and helping to determination crews around, and equipment."

Scott said the assemblage is relying connected the state to support the occurrence distant from Wabaseemoong.

"The program of onslaught that they have, it's looking favourable to the constituent wherever the occurrence astir apt won't determination towards the community," helium said. "They're keeping the confederate portion of the occurrence astatine bay, and really putting astir of their resources connected the confederate portion by bringing successful a fewer much choppers to bucket the fire."

The state has besides enactment question restrictions successful effect successful the country of the fire. All question and usage of roads, including connected Highway 525 beyond the bluish bound of Wabaseemoong, is prohibited without a permit.

Similarly, each usage of lakes and waterways, and all use and concern of Crown land, successful the country is prohibited.

Wabaseemoong is located astir 95 kilometres northbound of Kenora

Meanwhile, suppression efforts proceed connected Dryden 5, which is located adjacent Peterson Cove connected Sturgeon Lake, astir 62 kilometres northeast of Ignace.

The occurrence is 140 hectares successful size, and was not nether power arsenic of Sunday. Four crews are assigned to that fire, the state said.