A remote James Bay community has declared a state of emergency and is evacuating due to a forest fire.
The blaze to the west of Fort Albany is about 300 hectares in size, according to Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services' update last night (June 21).
Chief Elizabeth Kataquapit declared a state of emergency yesterday afternoon with the evacuation effort starting immediately after.
Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus posted an update on Facebook about the fire crisis in Fort Albany and nearby Kashechewan.
There are 700-800 people needed to be evacuated, with 357 being identified as "primary evacuees" and nine people needing medivac supports, he said.
The fire — Cochrane 11 — is about two kilometres from Fort Albany, said Angus. Waterbombers and other efforts were being used to protect the community.
Air Creebec was using two airplanes to evacuate residents from Fort Albany to Moosonee last night. For short-term relief, Angus said Fort Albany residents were advised to evacuate to Kashechewan using private boats.
A photo shared by Angus on Twitter shows about a dozen boats with community members in them evacuating on the Albany River to Kashechewan.
Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) assets have been requested, but Angus said the agency "indicated that aircraft are not within proximity to the community."
Moosonee is acting as a hub for the evacuees. Toronto and Val Rita have been identified as permanent host sites, he said. The patients needing medivac were moved to Timmins.