Eabametoong, Gull Bay and Lac Des Mille Lacs Evacuees All Return Home as Ontario Fire Count Eases to 59

As of Aug 28, all wildfire evacuees from Eabametoong First Nation, Gull Bay First Nation and Lac Des Mille Lacs First Nation had returned home, according to Prepared Ontario — closing out evacuations that began in mid-July and had sent nearly 950 Eabametoong members and hundreds of Gull Bay residents to host communities including Niagara Falls, Fort Frances, Kenora and Thunder Bay. No injuries or property damage were reported among the returning evacuees. Separately, Northwestern Ontario's active fire count eased to 59 (6 not under control, 3 being held, 12 under control, 38 being observed) after three small new starts — Fort Frances 68, Dryden 64 and Sioux Lookout 115 — were confirmed the same day; the Rinker Lake Complex (Thunder Bay 36, Dryden 34, Dryden 35) remains not under control despite low fire activity.