Whitesand First Nation plans phased return for wildfire evacuees

By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SNnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY — Hundreds of Whitesand First Nation members will begin returning to their homes on Thursday, more than a month after evacuating. The First Nation and neighbouring Armstrong evacuated to Thunder Bay on July 13-14 as the fire labelled Thunder Bay 36 — the largest forest fire in Ontario history — threatened their communities. Whitesand members, numbering around 470, have been staying primarily at the Superior Inn on Arthur Street. Darian Baskatawang, a spokesperson for Whitesand, said Tuesday in an interview at the hotel that the July 13 evacuation order “will be rescinded on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 9 a.m.” so that “community members of Whitesand and Armstrong can go home, finally after all this time.” Baskatawang said the First Nation…

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