As the last of the Pikangikum First Nation evacuees head home, the state of emergency in Timmins has been lifted.
The state of emergency was declared on July 14, the same day people from the northwestern Ontario community that was being threatened by forest fires started arriving in Timmins.
The last 47 people from Pikangikum First Nation headed home today, according to the city. The community is aiming to have everyone back home by Saturday at the latest.
The state of emergency was to allow the city to access additional provincial resources and aid.
“We’re happy to see our Pikangikum guests returning home,” said Tom Laughren, fire chief and emergency management coordinator.
“It’s been a long few weeks for community members who were worried and missing family and friends, but the team we had in place did an outstanding job of supporting the evacuees. Our ability to act fast depends on working together quickly to provide a coordinated response. Thank you to each organization and agency that stepped up to assist.”
The Independent First Nation Alliance, Canadian Rangers, Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (CDSSAB) and local first responders are some of the community partners and agencies that helped the city host the evacuees.
