Wildfire near Sandy Lake First Nation a ‘sleeping giant’ as evacuation flights pause [Video]

Spanning 163,000 hectares, the largest wildfire in northwestern Ontario — Red Lake 12 — is now being called a “sleeping giant.”

The fire is six kilometres from Sandy Lake First Nation and remains not under control.

“Because of the cooler weather, you’re not seeing anything right now. But there isn’t enough rain,” Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) said in an update provided by Sandy Lake First Nation on Tuesday.

“It could take months to put out a fire this size.”

Canadian Armed Forces members were called in to assist efforts on Sunday. Since then, more than 2,000 people have been flown out of the community, the majority boarded onto Hercules aircraft. 

As of late Tuesday afternoon, the First Nation said Phase 1 of its evacuation had been completed.

WATCH | Wildfire evacuees from Sandy Lake First Nation arrive in Greater Toronto Area: As a major wildfire continues to burn …