Deer Lake Residents Evacuated

530 Deer Lake residents have now been safely evacuated from their community which is threatened by nearby forest fires. Forest fires had been burning as close as 3.5 kilometres from the remote community. At the request of Deer Lake First Nation Chief Roy Meekis and Band Council, the province and its municipal and federal partners coordinated the airlift of residents to Geraldton. MNR personnel continue to fight multiple fires in northwest Ontario with ground crews and water bombers. EMO and MNR will continue to monitor the situation and work on contingency plans in case the situation worsens and more evacuations become necessary.