As a result of the seriousness of Northern Ontario’s current forest fire season, Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro called an emergency meeting bringing together various stakeholders.
Among those invited were Mayors and Fire Chiefs from local municipalities, including Oliver Paipoonge, Shuniah, Neebing, O’Connor, Conmee and Gillies, as well as Chief Peter Collins of Fort William First Nation, and key officials from the MNRF Regional Office.
Mayor Bill Mauro explains that this year feels significant in terms of forest fires, leading to him organizing the meeting.
“When you hear the numbers of individuals and municipalities that have been impacted, that have already been evacuated, the number of people who yet may have to get evacuated, you really get a sense of the scope and the scale of what we’re dealing with here.”
Mauro goes on to say the municipalities in the region are ready to support each other.
“The city of Thunder Bay with the mutual aid agreements in place, that we’re as prepared as we can be, and reminding people to be as careful as you can possibly be.”
The meeting occurred soon after the province restricted certain industries in the region including mining, rail, construction, transportation, and construction from carrying out activates that could start new fires.
