Heavy smoke, mechanical issues delay evacuation efforts on Mathias Colomb Cree Nation – CBC

Jul 17, 2022

Wildfire is 230 square kilometres in size, less than a kilometre away from the community: Wildfire Service

Heavy smoke and technical issues delayed final evacuations on Mathias Colomb Cree Nation as community members continue to flee an out-of-control wildfire on Sunday.

Ralph Caribou, the UCN Coordinator for Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, has been actively working on the evacuations. The chief, a councillor and 40 residents were still trying to escape the area on Sunday morning, Caribou said in an email to CBC.

“This morning heavy smoke continues,” he wrote. A helicopter and plane both aiding with the evacuation efforts experienced engine problems on Saturday due to the smoke, Caribou said, and were unable to take off.

Heavy smoke, mechanical issues delay evacuation efforts on Mathias Colomb Cree Nation – CBC

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