PIKANGIKUM FIRST NATION, Ont. — After being displaced for more than two weeks because of a forest fire, the last fire evacuee from Pikangikum First Nation has returned home.
More than 2,000 members of the northwestern Ontario community received shelter in Thunder Bay and numerous other centres after a forest fire erupted near the end of May.
Thunder Bay received its first evacuees on May 30.
The fire was declared out last Friday.
"It has been a long journey," said Chief Amanda Sainnawap. "We are all ready to be home."
While awaiting her flight to Pikangikum on Monday, June 17, Dora Quill—one of the last returnees—said she was happy to go back. She said her stay in Kapuskasing was comfortable, but added "I hope this never happens again."
Sainnawap said Pikangikum residents appreciate the support they received from all the host communities and all the organizations that stepped up to help them in their time of need.
She also turned her thoughts to the family of Kelsey Strang, the 16-year-old Pikangikum girl who died last week after being struck by a vehicle in Cochrane.
"We will continue to mourn this loss as a community," she said.
The completion of funeral arrangements was held back pending everyone's return to Pikangikum.
