Henvey Inlet First Nation citizens hope to return home soon
By Jennifer Pereira
PARRY SOUND—Henvey Inlet First Nation (HIFN) citizens are hoping they can return home as soon as possible and have been keeping in close contact with leadership.
Citizens were evacuated from their community along the Highway 69 corridor on July 21 due to heavy smoke from nearby Parry Sound Forest Fire 33.
The fire broke out on the south side of Key River on July 18 and quickly grew in size because of the very dry conditions. Exactly two weeks later, with little to no rain, by August 1, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) reported the fire had grown to 10,139 hectares. While the fire began on the south side of Key River, it grew northward, jumping the river, but had also crept both east and west. The biggest concern is to hold the east flank of the fire, to keep it away from the Trans Canada highway, where the fire perimeter is currently holding at about five kilometres west.
Early on, MNRF had imposed a travel restriction zone on the west side of the highway for a 10 kilometre stretch from about Bekanon Road going north, and evacuated residents and cottagers from Key River and a number of other homes. The restricted area has since been expanded north to the Alban turn off, and that community has been put on evacuation alert, and will be given a 24-hour notice to leave their homes.
HIFN citizens have been accommodated in hotels in Sudbury and Parry Sound, with the majority of people in Sudbury. When the State of Emergency was officially declared by Chief and Council on July 21, there were not enough hotel rooms available in Sudbury to accommodate all of the evacuees from HIFN.
Since the fire started, and the evacuation order implemented, the community has been living week to week. The initial evacuation order was until July 27; however, the fire was still out of control. Chief and Council reassessed the situation and decided to extend the order until August 3.
Every morning, Kyla McQuabbie of HIFN combs the internet for news on the fire as well as precipitation in the forecast. McQuabbie compares the stories she reads on social media for accuracy and has also installed a rain app on her cell phone.
“It dings when it’s going to rain,” she says.
McQuabbie, a mother of three, says that since the fire broke out, she has been stressed out and anxious.
“Not knowing anything is scary,” says McQuabbie. “The thought of not knowing if you’re going to lose your home and everything you worked hard for is just scary.”
McQuabbie has been staying at a hotel in Sudbury since the declared State of Emergency. McQuabbie says they’ve just been trying to keep busy. HIFN, wind construction partner Pattern Development, HIFN Environmental Commissioner, and Savanta, along with businesses in Sudbury have been working together to keep kids and families busy.
McQuabbie says there have been trips to go swimming, attend movies, Science North and some children are registered at a day camp.
Meanwhile on-reserve, Chief Wayne McQuabbie, some Councillors and a few members have stayed back as long as it is safe to do so, to protect homes. MNRF and citizens have installed sprinkler systems on homes and infrastructure.
“Values protections have been put in place as a precautionary measure and hopefully, we don’t have to go to that extreme,” says Chief McQuabbie in a news release.
“I’m optimistic with the forecast for today and tomorrow,” adds Chief McQuabbie. “The winds are in our favour right now, and there’s been some rain this morning.”
According to the Weather Network on August 1, the wind direction is coming out of the north, and then northeast, which could prevent the fire from reaching the highway or community.
The cause of the fire is undetermined and MNRF is continuing its investigation.