Ford Visits Thunder Bay as Northern Ontario Wildfires Force Mass Evacuations

Premier Doug Ford traveled to Thunder Bay on Saturday to meet with wildfire evacuees and the first responders working to keep them safe, as fires continue to tear through northern Ontario and force thousands from their homes and campsites.

Speaking to reporters during the visit, Ford said he had just been briefed on a rescue operation that pulled roughly 300 people many of them campers rather than residents of established communities out of active fire zones. He noted it took 40 separate missions to get everyone out safely.

The premier praised the agencies involved in the effort. “I want to thank the OPP for doing an incredible job. They’re absolute champions,” he said, adding thanks to Thunder Bay police, local firefighters and paramedics for their role in the response.

A growing list of northern communities is now under evacuation order, including Armstrong, Whitesand First Nation, Collins First Nation and Gakijiwanong Anishinaabe Nation, also known as Lac La Croix First Nation. Several other communities are making preparations in case they need to evacuate as well.

According to figures Ford shared, the province is now dealing with 191 active wildfires an increase of seven from the day before. Of those, 73 are burning out of control while another 91 are being monitored by crews.

“Our focus continues to be sending resources to the areas where fire suppression is most likely to be successful and where they can make the biggest impact keeping people and communities safe,” Ford said.

The response effort currently includes 155 crew members on the ground, supported by 80 water bombers and helicopters in the air.

Ford urged anyone who has already been evacuated to stay away from the affected areas, warning that returning could interfere with suppression work. “Do not, I repeat, do not go to your campsites. Do not go back to your homes if they’re saying not to go back,” he said, promising that evacuees would be provided with hotel rooms and food. “We will find you a place… We’ll make sure you’re well taken care of.”

Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris, who joined Ford for the briefing, described this year’s fire season as unlike anything the province has dealt with before. He said crews began preparing for the season months ago, but the scale of what’s unfolded has exceeded expectations.

Despite the intensity of the season, Harris credited ground crews, air support and everyone assisting the operation for their work under difficult conditions.

The visit comes as both Ford and Harris face mounting criticism. Ford has been accused of not putting enough provincial money and resources toward wildfire response, while Harris has drawn scrutiny over how his ministry handled evacuations in two First Nations communities.

Residents of Whitesand First Nation and Namaygoosisagagun First Nation (also called Collins First Nation) ended up fleeing approaching fires largely on their own, without provincial assistance arriving in time.

Harris said the fire near Collins moved unusually fast, advancing on the community at roughly four to eight kilometres an hour once conditions shifted. He said the speed of the fire, combined with the weather at the time, made it hard for provincial crews to reach the area and assess the situation before residents made the call to evacuate themselves.

“It’s just been a challenging situation across the northwest and across Ontario over the last week,” Harris said. “So we’ll look back as we do on all of the evacuations and our fire efforts and see if there’s things that we can continue to do better.”

The Canadian Armed Forces confirmed Saturday it is sending aircraft and personnel to assist with evacuating Eabametoong First Nation, also known as Fort Hope, after the province formally requested federal help. Four CC-130 Hercules aircraft will be used to fly community members out to safety.

In a statement, the CAF said the Hercules’ ability to operate in remote and rugged conditions makes it well suited to supporting emergency operations in the north.

Ford used part of Saturday’s briefing to respond directly to opposition politicians at Queen’s Park whom he accused of politicizing the wildfire crisis by suggesting his government isn’t spending enough.

“I will not spare a penny. Not a penny,” Ford said, pointing to what he described as $1.5 billion spent on wildfire response since he took office, including $650 million earmarked for helicopters and water bombers.

Harris offered a small note of optimism, saying fire activity has eased somewhat in recent days, which could help ease the heavy smoke blanketing parts of the province. Still, he said the region needs more than a lull it needs sustained rainfall without the lightning that has fueled so many of this season’s fires.

“What we really need to see is some of those sustained rains but without the lightning strikes,” Harris said, noting that most of the current fires trace back to a storm system that moved through the region about a week ago.