Premier Doug Ford expected to visit Thunder Bay as fires rage in northern Ontario
Ford is expected to meet evacuees as Ontario faces criticism over its wildfire response, with nearly 200 fires burning and more than 500 people sheltering in Thunder Bay.
- On Saturday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford is visiting Thunder Bay to meet with evacuees from northern communities displaced by nearly 200 wildfires ravaging the province.
- Nearly 200 wildfires have scorched more land than all of last year's fires, forcing residents of Whitesand First Nation and Namaygoosisagagun First Nation—also known as Collins First Nation—to evacuate without provincial assistance.
- Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris said Friday the fire at Collins First Nation spread at approximately four kilometres an hour and was only detected when it reached the community's doorstep.
- More than 150 fire crews and over 80 water bombers and helicopters are battling the blazes across Ontario, with Ford pledging the province will spare no expense to keep people safe.
- Multiple northern communities are preparing for potential evacuations as smoke continues to choke skies across the province, while Ford faces backlash over the adequacy of funding allocated for wildfire prevention and response.
54 Articles
54 Articles
Ontario wildfire evacuees recall ashes ‘landing from the sky’ in harrowing escape
THUNDER BAY — The smoke that blanketed Whitesand First Nation became thicker, darker and more acrid within hours. By Monday afternoon, debris started falling down from the pine trees. Panic began to grow in the remote Ontario community more than 250 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. That's when Daniel Nodin realized it was time for everyone to pack up and flee for their lives. Although the blaze was still invisible, the retired firefighter knew t…
Doug Ford visits evacuees, first responders as wildfires — and questions about Ontario and Ottawa’s response
Evacuated communities forced to flee say they didn’t get enough warning as 191 wildfires burn in the province. At least 10 communities have been evacuated and three are on alert.
Premier Ford Visits Thunder Bay as Nearly 200 Wildfires Rage in Ontario
Ontario Premier Doug Ford visited northern communities on July 18 as wildfires continued to spread across the region and First Nations leaders expressed “frustration with the bureaucratic processes” surrounding the province’s evacuation procedures. Rescue teams were engaged in 40 missions to rescue 300 campers and other individuals not in communities, Ford said while speaking at a news conference in Thunder Bay, Ont. The comments come three days…
Doug Ford Warns Ontario Wildfire Evacuees Not to Return Home
Premier Doug Ford is asking people fleeing northern Ontario wildfires to not return to their homes, saying going back to evacuated areas could jeopardize firefighting efforts. The warning comes as one First Nation has said residents were taking fire suppression into their own hands over fears the province wasn't doing enough. The premier was joined by other government officials at a news conference in Thunder Bay, where many wildfire evacuees ha…
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