Wildfires Destroy 30-Plus Collins First Nation Buildings, Forcing Boat Evacuation as Ontario Reviews Response
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jul 18
Wildfires Destroy 30-Plus Collins First Nation Buildings, Forcing Boat Evacuation as Ontario Reviews Response
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jul 18
Summary
More than 30 homes and key community buildings in Collins First Nation were destroyed after a wildfire ignited unusually close to the remote Ontario community, leaving residents only hours to escape by small boats across Collins Lake.
Only 25 of the community’s roughly 60 members were in Collins when the fire hit, a factor residents say likely saved lives after officials had earlier said there was no immediate danger.
Ontario officials, appearing with Premier Doug Ford, said they will review the response, while Indigenous leaders said the community had recently faced wildfire threats and still lacked fire breaks and other preventive measures.
The Anishinabek Nation said it is covering evacuees’ accommodation, meals and supplies in Thunder Bay because government support has yet to arrive, with Collins’ “near band” status complicating access to aid.
The destruction has sharpened concerns about Ontario’s wildfire readiness as 889 active fires burned across Canada Thursday night, including 163 in Ontario, and smoke spread as far as Toronto and Belleville.
Canada spends millions on fire prevention. Why was an entire Indigenous community left to burn?
As megafires become the new normal, can traditional Indigenous knowledge offer the best defense?
A First Nation was denied aid and incinerated. What bureaucratic loophole allowed this to happen?
Namaygoosisagagun First Nation Destroyed: The July 2026 Wildfire, Systemic Failures, and the Call for Indigenous-Led Solutions
Overview
On July 13, 2026, the Namaygoosisagagun (Collins) First Nation community was rapidly engulfed by a catastrophic event, resulting in widespread destruction. Over 30 homes and all essential infrastructure were lost, wiping out the physical foundations of the community and leaving residents without homes or vital services. Due to its remote, road-inaccessible location, conventional emergency responses were extremely difficult. Despite these challenges, residents quickly organized their own evacuation by boat, demonstrating resilience in the face of disaster. This tragedy highlights the severe impact of wildfires on remote Indigenous communities and the urgent need for better emergency support.