MUSKRAT DAM FIRST NATION – A fire at a Home in Muskrat Dam First Nation on Thursday has resulted into two residents being sent to a Winnipeg hospital with first- and second-degree burns.
According to a release issued on Friday by the band, the husband and wife were the only occupants of a two-storey dwelling and were able to escape the blaze under their own power and notify a neighbour.
Fighting the fire was further complicated by a community-wide power outage and bad weather, which kept an air ambulance from landing and taking the patients to hospital.
Internet connections at the nursing station were also out, further complicating their ability to assess the patients via telemedicine.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
“The patients are currently stable and, after a slight delay due to weather, were evacuated via air transport to Winnipeg, the closest access the community has to a burn unit,” said Muskrat Dam Deputy Chief Roy Fiddler.
“We are also communicating with family both on and off reserve and have arranged to have mental health workers support family and other community members affected by the fire.”
Fiddler said the fire brings to light the challenges faced by remote First Nation communities and their ability to provide emergency response and medical help.
He pointed to a 2019 fire in Kitchenuhmaykoosib First Nation that killed five members of the same household.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler tweeted on Friday the victims were his sister and brother-in-law.
The community says it will provide updates as they become available.
Muskrat Dam is located 370 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout.
