UPDATE Monday, June 10: Laughren says the Pikangikum fire hasn’t grown in a week. Residents will start leaving Timmins by mid- to late this week.
Timmins is again extending a hand of welcome to a remote northern community in a time of need.
By the end of today, it should be the temporary home for 160 people from the remote First Nations community of Pikangikum, as they flee two forest fires nearby.
Timmins emergency planning coordinator Tom Laughren notes that this group is smaller than the 950 from Kashechewan, who went home last week.
“These 160 will be at the Ramada Inn,” he outlines. “That’s where we have the rooms and if there’s other contingencies or needs that need to be met on this, well then obviously we’ll look at other options.”
Hotel rooms are in short supply because of next week’s Canadian Mining Expo.
“We just recently completed from Kashechewan the 950 people which we believe went very well,” Laughren says, “and again, this will be happening and we know the Timmins community is always open to these type of situations and helping the neighbours.”
Cochrane is also taking in 225 evacuees.