Eric MacFadden, Barrie’s deputy fire chief and alternate community engagement management coordinator, said that while the city isn’t directly coordinating the evacuation, it’s been looped into the plans led by the province and ISN Maskwa, an Indigenous-led emergency support organization.
Published Jun 2, 2025 at 7:50pm
Members of the Ottawa Fire Service (OFS) work to vent a roof during a house fire in the downtown neighbourhood of Ottawa on Christmas Day on Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Wildfires are continuing to spread across northwestern Ontario, and now the City of Barrie is preparing to receive hundreds of evacuees from Webequie First Nation.
The first flights are expected to still happen this Monday.
Approximately 400 residents, including elders, children, and those with medical conditions, are being prioritized in what officials are calling a Phase 1 evacuation.
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