Raging wildfires in northern Ontario force hundreds to relocate to London, Ont.
There are currently over 100 active fires burning in northwestern Ontario, forcing evacuees as far south as London until the threat recedes.
An emergency was declared in Wabaseemoong Independent Nations community earlier this month, forcing over 300 band members from their homes as smoke from the wildfires filled the air.
Hundreds of them have come to London as they wait out the fire threat, unsure about if and when they'll be able to head back home.
Helene Fischer says she's grateful they were able to leave.
"It was kind of getting scary because of the smoke, and the threat of the fire coming too close to the community," said Fischer.
Community Liaison Kevin Scott has been helping organize the temporary resettlement of the registered band members.
"The smoke was really bad, people say the smoke was bad here –-- but it's worse back home because we get the first of it," says Scott.
Xpera, a company that does contingency planning, has been working closely with the provincial government to help relocate the evacuees.
"We look after all the meals provided, we look after obviously some of the transportation to and from the airport, and we look after some of the recreational activity on site as well," said Robert Garland, director of Xpera.
One of the activities included a day at the Gibbons Park splash pad. That's where Deanna Henry and her children enjoyed a little relief from the heat, and tried to take their minds off of what is happening back home.
"Being disconnected from like my home -- that's pretty much what got me -- I didn’t want to leave," said Henry.
It is unclear when Henry and her family will be able to go back home, but for now they are making the best of the situation.
"Every band member is wanting to go home, but they do know the situation back home, so it's just a matter of time," said Scott.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.