Fire and Evacuation Update

About 80 people have been evacuated from New Osnaburgh First Nation (Mishkeegogamang) as a large fire
continues to burn near the community.
The evacuees, mostly children and elders, are staying in Sioux Lookout.
A majority of them are sleeping on mattresses at the Rec Centre.
The Ministry of Natural Resources says the fire is now 23,000 hectares in size and is not under control.
The blaze is about 18 kilometres east of the First Nation
community. The ministry says the fire poses no threat to the
community, but heavy smoke is blowing into the area.
Some 25 firefighters, five helicopters and several water bombers are working on the blaze.
Sioux Lookout official Brian MacKinnon says they have room to accommodate up to 200 evacuees.