Evacuation order issued for Sandy Lake First Nation as wildfire spreads

Evacuation Order Issued for Sandy Lake First Nation as Wildfire Approaches

An evacuation order was issued on Saturday for Sandy Lake First Nation as a wildfire moved toward the northwestern Ontario community.

Sandy Lake officials issued the order after the fire, known as Red Lake 12, was spotted moving northward toward the community in the province’s Kenora district. Sandy Lake First Nation, a fly-in community, is located about 600 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, Ont.

According to Ontario Forest Fires, community officials are asking residents to gather at the southeast corner of Sandy Lake, where fire management staff are mobilizing boats to aid in the evacuation process.

Red Lake 12 has grown to a size of more than 66,000 hectares in the region, and it is not yet under control. The wildfire has led to smoke that has spread across many parts of the province, resulting in air quality statements and warnings being issued.

For the latest updates on wildfire activity in Ontario, residents can visit the province’s interactive fire map here.