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Red Lake residents fleeing fire evacuated to Dryden, Thunder Bay

Red Lake Mayor Fred Mota will stay in the community despite the fire threat

THUNDER BAY — The first of what are expected to be hundreds of evacuees from Red Lake were scheduled to arrive in Thunder Bay late Tuesday afternoon.

The Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) has arranged for a series of flights for residents of Red Lake, which is under threat from a forest fire burning just a few kilometres away.

Officials said close to half the population of about 4,100 was believed to have left the community by road as of late Tuesday morning, seeking refuge in other Northwestern Ontario communities, including Dryden where beds were made available at the arena.

In Thunder Bay, evacuees will be picked up at the airport and taken on city transit buses to hotels.

Acting Fire Chief Greg Hankkio said the city was initially told it could receive up to 450 Red Lake residents before the end of the day, but added that the situation continues to evolve.

"This is all happening quite quickly. It's my understanding they are working on a number of flights. The one we have details on is scheduled to arrive at about 4:20 this afternoon," Hankkio said.

He said it's possible that more evacuees could arrive Wednesday.

"They've ordered the evacuation of the entire community. It's a pretty dynamic situation. How it all transpires is yet to be seen," Hankkio added.

Red Lake Mayor Fred Mota told Tbnewswatch he was relieved to learn that PEOC was making up to 10 flights available Tuesday to take as many as 500 people to Thunder Bay.

Mota said the municipality has people knocking on doors and is using social media to try to ensure everyone knows they are being advised to leave town immediately.

He has no plans to abandon Red Lake himself, however.

To this point, the evacuation is voluntary, not mandatory, and Mota said "I'm staying. I'm here for our residents. I'm not going anywhere." 

As of late Tuesday afternoon, the  550-hectare fire had moved to within less than one kilometre of Highway 105, the road leading south to the Trans-Canada Highway.

Mota said he's pleased with the efforts the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is making to protect his community.

"They're doing a fantastic job" with what they can do, he said, in the face of what he described as extremely windy conditions.

He has not been made aware of any structural losses so far in the Madsen area of Red Lake – where the fire started Monday afternoon – or along Highway 105..

The mayor said MNRF crews are applying water to structures that are in the fire's path.

 

 

 


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Gary Rinne

About the Author: Gary Rinne

Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Gary started part-time at Tbnewswatch in 2016 after retiring from the CBC
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