As an armed force aircraft could not intervene, the community had to resort to small planes, rail trucks and an emergency train.
About 700 people left the community by train overnight, and another 500 were evacuated Saturday morning, First Nation Chief Lorna Piketty said.
The train drops off the evacuees further south, in the village of Sheridan, which is accessible by road. They are then taken by train to Winnipeg, Flin Flon, Thompson or The Pass. The Canadian Red Cross is responsible for evacuees.
Anthony Mayham, president and CEO of Keewatin Rail, says he’s quick to help the First Nation.
We felt forced and our train was the only option for these community members. We decided to go back with the help of some other organizations and felt we had an obligation to help the communities we serve.
He explains.
About 300 people are still waiting to leave Bugatvagan, and Ms Piketty hopes everyone will be evacuated by 6pm. The cook and his team go door to door to make sure no one is in her house.
The pressure finally falls on the evacuees
Nurses’ office secretary Charmaine Greene was among the Bucatawakan evacuees who arrived in Winnipeg.
It started two days ago, she explains. We received calls, got names of people to check priority cases like people with respiratory problems and start organizing evacuation.
As fire and smoke approached, he was ordered to evacuate. Charmaine Green left the community on a small plane that took her to Winnipeg.
” It was scary. »
Mrs. Green has a thought for those who are still there. Two of my colleagues, frontline staff, the fire department, our nurses, principal and councilors are still there,
She points out.
Lorna Piketty confirmed that the nurses and leaders would stay until everyone left.
Fires close to his community are common at this time of year. We are used to seeing smoke and fire near our community every year, but never an evacuation.
Confirms 11 years of community living.
The pressure finally subsides. I think I’ll sleep well tonight,
Charmaine Green assures. We are still waiting to find out where we will be staying,
She explained on Saturday afternoon.
Organized by the Red Cross
On Saturday, the Canadian Red Cross set up shelter for evacuees from the Matthias Columbus Cree Nation in Winnipeg.
There are always mistakes, delays, but it’s going well and hopefully everyone will be out tonight
Red Cross spokesman Jason Small said.
The plan is to move as many evacuees as possible to hotels, but if space is insufficient, a 600-bed shelter is being set up at the University of Winnipeg’s Recplex.
Obviously not the best choice – we prefer to have people stay in hotels, but we have that if needed
Jason Small explained.
The armed forces surrender
Two planes from the 435th Airlift Wing attempted to evacuate residents on Saturday. According to Lorna Piketty, they should be back in the community soon.
In an email, an Army spokesperson said two CC-130H Hercules Supporting the Province of Manitoba, Indigenous Services Canada and the Canadian Red Cross to evacuate people from Pukatawaan
.
He says the armed forces received a request to evacuate about 120 people and take them to Winnipeg. We were unable to visit the community yesterday but hope to visit it today
continues the speaker.
Mathias Colomb Cree Nation has 2,500 people. By 9pm on Friday, the flames were within 200 yards of the community.
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