Ontario First Nations communities devastated as fast-moving wildfires force mass evacuations
Fast-moving wildfires in Ontario have burned two First Nations communities to the ground and forced evacuations across 13 communities in the province. Local leaders say residents were left to self-evacuate without adequate government help or emergency alerts. The fires are part of a wider outbreak across Canada, where nearly 1,000 wildfires are burning.
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford said close to 2,000 people had been evacuated so far, with many moved to cities including Toronto and Niagara Falls. About 200 of the fires are in Ontario, according to the supplied report. Prime Minister Mark Carney said heatwaves and dry weather had combined to create one of the most intense wildfire seasons in Canadian history.
One of the worst-hit communities was Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, north of Thunder Bay in north-western Ontario, which was engulfed by fire on 15 June. About two dozen people boarded boats carrying their belongings and crossed a nearby lake to escape. All members got out safely, but the community's buildings and other infrastructure were completely destroyed.
The destruction has renewed scrutiny of emergency planning for remote First Nations communities, which are often more exposed to wildfire risk and more dependent on rapid evacuation support. Linda Debassige, grand council chief of the Anishinabek Nation, said the community would have faced a recovery mission for the bodies of children, elders, men and women if it had waited for a mandatory evacuation order. The Anishinabek Nation represents 39 Ontario First Nations and has been helping evacuees in Thunder Bay.
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Debassige said Namaygoosisagagun's chief, Helen Paavola, had contacted the federal government in the days before the fire, but was told there was no imminent threat. First Nations leaders have also accused Ford of being unclear about what support the province is providing and of disorganisation in coordination with First Nations. The Ontario government did not respond to requests for comment in the supplied report.
The fires come amid a severe wildfire season in Canada, with heat and dry conditions driving repeated evacuations and stretching emergency resources. The supplied report also says Ontario spent $271m on emergency firefighting in 2025-26 and plans to spend $150m in 2026-27, a figure that may draw further attention as the crisis continues. What remains unclear is how many people are still displaced, how many communities remain under immediate threat, and whether additional federal or provincial support will be announced.
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