Evacuees return to Sandy Lake

Sandy Lake First Nation residents returned home Sunday after being evacuated from their community early last week.
The fire situation near the small northern community has quieted down, allowing for the residents to go back to their homes.

A total 650 Sandy Lake FN residents evacuated their community last week due to smoke from the nearby fires. This number included about 100 who came to Fort Frances, with the balance staying in Thunder Bay.
The Ministry of Natural Resources reports that rain has eased the forest fire situation and dropped the hazard to “low” across most of the region.
Out of province resources from Saskatchewan and New Brunswick were released from the Northwest Region assignment over the weekend.
Type 2 contract crews are also being released from fires.
These resources provided much needed support to the Northwest Region during the peak of fire activity, said the MNR.