Henvey Inlet First Nation residents are set to return home.
Chief Wayne McQuabbie and council have rescinded the evacuation order. This comes after progress was made by fire crews on the Parry Sound 33 forest fire. The area will still remain on a three-hour evacuation alert.
In a release, Chief McQuabbie said, “Based on mapping showing where all air support and fire crews activities on the ground along with constant updates from command supervisors, and Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry officials, I felt comfortable knowing hose line has been run on sections of the eastern flank west of our community off Highway 69, and felt safe to allow community members to return home.” McQuabbie is grateful to the fire crews and MNRF for the work they are putting into extinguishing the fire.
Parry Sound 33 has been burning since July 18th. Three days later a state of emergency was declared by the chief and council because of the heavy smoke and the evacuation order was given. Last week that order had been extended to this Friday, but that was before the recent progress on the fire was made.
During the evacuation order, the 192 community resident members were spread out in hotels and other accommodations between Parry Sound and Sudbury. Henvey Inlet First Nation member Angele Dubois says, “I’m just excited to get back to everyday life and grateful for the firefighters who ensured we had a community to go back to, but I’m still going to keep a go-bag by the door in case we have to leave, but I’m still really happy to be going home.”