MANITOUWADGE ACTING MAYOR SAYS COMMUNITY PREPARED TO ACCEPT EVACUEES FROM NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
MANITOUWADGE, ON – The many forest fires in Northwestern Ontario have caused concerns in First Nations communities with officials deciding to evacuate their residents.
Communities across Northern Ontario have agreed to host these evacuees. This afternoon in Manitouwadge a special meeting was called where Acting Mayor Natalie Labbee, along with Council and township senior staff met to discuss their strategy in regards to accepting evacuees.
No official release has yet been issued in regards to numbers of evacuees that could be expected, when they might arrive or how the township is proceeding but Labbee assured OntarioNewsNorth.com that “Manitouwadge has had an Emergency Preparedness Plan in place for many years and is proceeding accordingly,” adding that “We have at this point agreed to accept evacuees and are confident that when volunteers are asked to come forward our community will respond”. Mayor John MacEachern is expected back in his office tomorrow.
The Ministry of Natural Resources continue to work diligently to gain control of the many fires.
The Township of Manitouwadge will be communicating with residents through the media as more information becomes available.
