Ontario Construction News staff writer
All members of a construction crew are safe after being trapped by a fast-moving wildfire near Sandy Lake First Nation in northwestern Ontario over the weekend.
The workers, employed by Sigfusson Northern and Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc., were on site for a project with the First Nation when wildfire conditions escalated rapidly Saturday morning. The fire, which had been about 40 kilometres away at the start of the day, quickly advanced, prompting the crew to begin packing up equipment around 9:30 a.m. as a precaution.
โAll 14 members of our construction crew, along with four additional team members from partner statement Monday. โWe commend our crews for their remarkable professionalism, courage, and calm response.โ
After receiving a request from the First Nation to assist with creating fire breaks, the crew began moving toward a nearby work camp located 14 kilometres west. As the fire closed in, the workers abandoned their gear and followed emergency protocols, sheltering in an open area of the camp.
Video and photos shared on social media show flames and smoke encircling the site, with a red haze filling the sky. The crew initially took refuge in a cargo container, but were forced to flee when the fire reached it.
Attempts to evacuate the group by helicopter were delayed due to poor visibility from smoke. After four tense hours and several failed rescue attempts, the crew was able to escape in a convoy along a main road to Sandy Lake First Nation.
The company credited recent emergency preparedness training with helping the workers respond effectively. Counselling and wellness supports are being provided to affected staff.
While there was no evacuation order in place when work began, emergency flight plans were activated as a precaution. Those efforts were temporarily halted when the local runway became inaccessible due to fire activity.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on X that Canadian Armed Forces personnel and aircraft had been deployed to assist with evacuations in the Sandy Lake area.
โOur priority is the safety, care, and well-being of every member of the Sigfusson Northern team,โ the company said. โWe also stand in solidarity with the people of Sandy Lake First Nation and surrounding communities during this extremely difficult time.โ