Evacuees fleeing NW Ont. forest fires find safety in Cornwall, Ont.
Forest fires in northwestern Ontario have forced hundreds of residents from a First Nation community to evacuate their homes and flee to Cornwall, Ont.
A full evacuation order was issued for Deer Lake First Nation, about 300 km north of Kenora. The people there were flown 2,000 km east to safety.
"We couldn’t see across the lake. That’s how much smoke there was," said Nathan Meekis.
Meekis and his cousin Austin were helping their community leave safely until they, too, were told to get out fast.
"I was supposed to go to a different place, but they sent me out here. I wasn't even supposed to leave until the last plane but then I showed up to work and they told me to pack my bag. I didn't even know we were coming here until we jumped on the plane," he said.
Meekis is among 530 residents of Deer Lake who are now staying at Cornwall's Nav Centre. They were allowed to bring only a single suitcase with them and it’s unknown when they'll be back home.
"My kids are really homesick and want to go back home," said Larissa Harper, another evacuee.
Some families were able to come to Cornwall together, but others were relocated to different places.
"Families got spread out. My mom is in Thunder Bay right now, alone," said Joseph Meekis.
"You would be very lucky if you are with your family," Austin Meekis said.
The residents of Deer Lake are allowed to leave the Nav Centre and can move freely in Cornwall. The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) is part of a support network providing mental health services and COVID-19 vaccines to those who need them.
"Most were vaccinated up north but some didn't get their second dose because they were flown out," explained Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, the medical officer of health for the EOHU.
Last year, the Nav Centre was turned into a quarantine site, hosting more than 100 Canadians who were aboard a cruise ship that was stricken with COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic. The passengers were quarantined for 14 days and allowed to leave after showing no signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
In the meantime, these 530 residents of Deer Lake First Nation must now wait until the fires recede before they can return home, and it's not known when that could be.
"We have to do it for our community," said Austin Meekis. "We have to do what our chief says."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Millions of cyberattacks per hour as B.C. government investigates multiple breaches
Careful attention to government statements and legislation is required to get a handle on the level of risk British Columbians’ information is under, as investigators probe multiple breaches under a continued barrage of attacks.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
New 'Lord of the Rings' film coming in 2026
The Oscar-winning team behind the nearly US$6 billion blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies is reuniting to produce two new films.