Tragedy has struck the family and friends of a 16-year old girl from Pikangikum First Nation.
The community’s leaders are confirming the teenager was hit and killed by a vehicle during the evacuees’ stay in Cochrane.
The report indicates this happened early Wednesday morning, as the evacuees were hearing they’d soon be returning home after escaping the forest fires.
Pikangikum’s chief says this stresses the need to get evacuees back home as soon as possible.
No further details have been given.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says the fire near Pikangikum remains at 3,835 hectares in size.
It’s also noting the one near Pickle Lake hasn’t changed.
The MNR adds two new fires started Wednesday, near Sioux Lookout and Kenora, they’re small, not under control.
There are six active fires total, four not under control across the region.
