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
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.