Fire Within One Kilometre Sparks Urgent Response

WEBEQUIE FIRST NATION – INDIGENOUS NEWS – Webequie First Nation has declared a State of Emergencyin response to a rapidly advancing wildfire located within just one kilometre of the community. As of May 28, waterbombers and FireRanger crews have been deployed to combat the blaze, which continues to burn and damage the surrounding land. Local leadership confirms the fire poses an immediate risk to residents, especially the community’s most vulnerable.

In response, Webequie initiated a Phase 1 evacuation late yesterday for elders, children, prenatal individuals, the chronically ill, and those with mobility challenges. Approximately 400 people will be airlifted to Barrie, Ontario over the next 48 hours as part of a coordinated emergency response involving the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC), Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), and Health Canada.

Chief Cornelius Wabasse assured community members that leadership is fully engaged and actively working to protect everyone’s safety:

“I would encourage all residents of Webequie First Nation to be rest assured that we are committed to keeping our residents informed and safe. We will work with partners and government to ensure our needs are met—both in the community and at the evacuation site.”

Chief Wabasse also emphasized that the fire is being closely monitored to determine whether further evacuations are necessary and that communication with residents will remain ongoing.

The evacuation to Barrie reflects a coordinated provincial approach to wildfire emergency response, with airlift logistics and health support being mobilized at a rapid pace. With wildfires also threatening other northern communities like Deer Lake First Nation, there is growing concern over how prepared Ontario is to protect remote First Nations in increasingly severe wildfire seasons.

For Thunder Bay and surrounding areas, the movement of evacuees southward highlights the need for regional emergency readiness and support networks as communities like Webequie face the compounded effects of environmental threats and limited infrastructure.