People in Pikangikum First Nation are using the small fuel they have left to shine the headlights in their homes as a way to escape from darkness while forest fires continue to damage hydroelectric poles in the region.
The remote community of Ojibway in the northwest of Ontario has been without electricity for three days. Other five communities in the region: Deer Lake, Sandy Lake, Poplar Hill, North Spirit Lake and Keewaywin First Nations, they are now also experiencing interruptions.
Paddy Peters, Chief of Pikangikum, said the forest fires of the area have damaged six posts along the Wataynikaney electric line, creating a chain reaction in half a dozen first nations.
“People are running out of food,” Peters said. “We need a lot of fresh food in our community. We need milk for babies, focus, we need lights.”
There are vulnerable members of these communities who will need to be medal to ensure that they can access the services they need.– Alvin Fiddler, great boss, Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Tiziana Bacega Rosa, senior advisor to relations with the media of Hydro One, provided a statement sent by email to CBC News just after 5 pm et on Monday.
“Through its distribution system, Hydro One Remote Communities, a subsidiary of Hydro One Inc., provides electricity from the Wataynikaneyap Power transmission line to remote communities and isolated in the northern end of Ontario,” said Bacefega Rosa.
“Hydro One is mobilizing 20 members of the transmission crew together with off -road equipment to support the restoration work of Wataynikaneyap Power.”
While people in Deer Lake and Sandy Lake have access to energy through emergency diesel, Rosa Bacceega said that more than 1,000 customers in the other first four nations have no energy.
An update of Sandy Lake First Nation said that the equipment was expected to replace the first hydroelectric pole on Monday.
“Hydro One has also offered help and is moving additional teams from Kenora and Dryden,” said the first Facebook nation on Monday afternoon.
Internet lines, cells and telephone remain low.
Stop food, compromised communications
The great chief Alvin Fiddler of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 first nations in Treaties 9 and 5, sent a statement by email to CBC News on Monday.
“There is a growing concern about the threat to many of our remote communities, including Pikangikum, Keewaywin and Poplar Hill,” Fiddler said.
“We are concerned about the elderly and those who need air conditioning, and the deterioration of food and the wild game harvested in stored freezers. We have been in contact with the power of Wataynikaneyap and we hope that power can be restored as quickly as possible.”
The Northern Pikangikum store has been closed for three days, Peters said, “and I’m sure many of their products, essential goods, are spoiling.”
Communication systems have also committed, said Fiddler, which makes it difficult for leaders to reach emergency services and government officials.
“There are vulnerable members of these communities who will need to be medal to ensure that they can access the services they need,” said Fiddler. “We have addressed these concerns at various levels of government and we are following senior officials to ensure that our communities receive immediate support.”
Meanwhile, evacuation efforts continue in Pikangikum due to a fire of 31,000 hectares, known as Red Lake 62, just seven kilometers away. The fire is changing east, far from Pikangikum. Even so, said Peters, the Ontario Natural Ministry of Resources (MNR) should have warned him before.
This should never have happened. Someone made the wrong decision out there. When the fire was 30 kilometers away, we should have been warned and said we prepared for an evacuation.– Paddy Peters, Chief of Pikangikum First Nation
“This should never have happened. Someone made the wrong decision out there. When the fire was 30 kilometers away, we should have been warned and said that we prepared for an evacuation,” he said.
CBC News has communicated with the MNR and is waiting for an answer.
However, Carolane Gratton, spokesman for indigenous Services of Canada (ISC), said in a statement sent by email: “Ontario is in the middle of a very active forest fire season, and the indigenous services Canada are working in association with all the first affected nations, as well as the leadership and organizations of the first nations, the province of Ontario and other partners to respond.
“Ensuring the security and well -being of community members is our highest priority, and we continue to support evacuation efforts and emergency needs as the situation evolves.”
Around 4,000 people live in Pikangikum, located in the treaty 5 to about 500 kilometers northwest of Thunder Bay. A command center has been established at school, the only building with energy, thanks to a backup generator.
While initially it was expected that some 2,000 evacuated were sent to Toronto and Mississauga, Peters said: “That is too far to send my people.”
Instead, some 500 people were sent to Thunder Bay and 50 prenatal women went to Sioux Lookout, he said. More evacuated are on their way, either by addressing Dash-8 aircraft or choosing to self-assess.
“As a leader, I’m very worried [about] The number of people who are still here, “Peters said.
Favorable winds in the forecast
As for Red Lake 62, Ontario Forest Forses said that an implementation order remains in force for the area, which limits the use of many roads and lakes.
“The continuous drought conditions in the Lagos Red El Lago sector continue to support a really active fire behavior and deep burning fires, which are third to extinguish and take longer periods,” said fire information officer, Chris Marchand, to CBC News on Monday afternoon.
“There is very little in terms of rain in the forecast, although our winds are expected to remain in a favorable direction for some of the largest fires where fire -fighting operations occur.”
There are 10 crews, seven pieces of heavy equipment and 18 planes that fight against Red Lake 62, and more workers are expected to reach the area in the next few days, he said.
While the rain has been irregular throughout the region, the danger of forest fire is higher along the Manitoba border, “which has seen a dry spring and summer, and has these current drought conditions,” Marchand said.
More than 20 air quality statements are in force in the northwest of Ontario, even for Pikangikum, due to the smoke of forest fires.
Without a definitive timeline for the restoration of power, Peters said he is asking for more resources to be delivered as soon as possible.
“We are sending a SOS. Who is listening, we need help,” he said. “We need prayers. If you are a prayer warrior, pray for our community, pray for our people.”
