Ontario Government Expands Emergency Message System as Nearly 200 Wildfires Rage
Local officials can now request Alert Ready messages as nearly 200 wildfires force evacuations and reception centres open across northern Ontario.
- On Sunday, Emergency Preparedness Minister Jill Dunlop announced Ontario is granting local authorities access to the Alert Ready system to issue emergency warnings for threats to life or public safety.
- Nearly 200 active wildfires are raging across northern Ontario, prompting Premier Doug Ford to open reception centres as Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris said Saturday that sustained rainfall is needed to quell the blazes.
- The Alert Ready system is used nationwide for emergencies such as tornadoes and Amber Alerts, with the province's emergency operations centre assessing all proposed messages before broadcasting them via television, radio, and mobile devices.
- Multiple northern communities have already evacuated or are preparing to leave as officials implement these changes specifically to address this year's significant wildfire season.
- The province previously faced criticism for its handling of evacuations after residents of Whitesand First Nation and Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, also known as Collins First Nation, fled approaching wildfires without provincial assistance.
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Close to 200 wildfires are active in northern Ontario, as communities evacuate
Nearly 200 wildfires are currently burning across Northern Ontario, with 57 said to be out of control. The majority of the fires are burning in the Northwest region. This comes as Northern Ontario communities prepare for further evacuations as official...
Ontario expanding emergency message system as nearly 200 wildfires rage – 105.9 The Region
Ontario is giving local authorities access to Canada’s national public alerting system as wildfires continue to burn across the province and prompt evacuations. Emergency Preparedness Minister Jill Dunlop said Sunday that mayors, First Nations chiefs, police chiefs and other government and emergency management officials can now request that Alert Ready messages be sent to residents via television, radio and mobile devices. The Alert Ready system…
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