Two Ontario First Nations declare wildfire emergencies, plan evacuations [Video]

Two First Nations in Ontario’s far north have declared states of emergency and are planning evacuations as wildfires threaten their communities.

Leaders in Deer Lake First Nation, near the Manitoba boundary, made their declaration today and say they are planning a “complete community evacuation” involving 1,300 people.

A forest fire burning nearby is estimated to be nearly 75 square kilometres in size.

Webequie First Nation, about 540 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ont., declared a state of emergency on Thursday because of a wildfire burning within a kilometre of the community.

It says it has initiated the first phase of an evacuation for elders, children and residents with medical conditions.

The First Nation says 400 people are expected to be transported to Barrie within the next day or so.

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