Large forest fire burning west of Eabamtoong First Nation being held

Tim Brody - Editor

A large forest fire burning approximately 35 kilometres west of Eabametoong First Nation (Fort Hope) was being held as of Sunday evening. Just 24 hours earlier it was listed as not under control.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services shared in an update Sunday evening, “Being Held indicates that given the current resources assigned to a fire, enough suppression has occurred that the fire is not likely to spread beyond existing boundaries under present or forecasted conditions.”
Twenty-seven FireRanger crews had been assigned to the 6,678 hectare forest fire, Nipigon 45, supported by seven helicopters, as of Sunday evening.
Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services also shared that low fire behaviour was keeping smoke issues to a minimum.
Two weeks ago, vulnerable members of Eabametoong First Nation were evacuated from the community due to health concerns relating to smoke surrounding the community. Chief and Council declared a forest fire and smoke emergency on August 11.
Vulnerable community members were evacuated to Timmins, Kapuskasing, and Thunder Bay.