About 385 Poplar Hill residents and more than 400 from Deer Lake have been staying in Thunder Bay. Eric Nordlund, Thunder Bay's deputy fire chief, said Monday that Poplar Hill community members could start returning home as early as Tuesday, while flights to Deer Lake could start on Thursday. Red Lake 51, at about 52,000 hectares and located about 24 kilometres west of Deer Lake, is also smouldering with some visible smoke. The provincial Ministry of the Solicitor General confirmed it's ancitipated evacuees from Deer Lake and Poplar Hill will be returning home this week, but no further details were provided. The restrictions apply to certain industrial operations that have the potential to cause sparks and start fires.

Source: CBC News August 09, 2021 16:42 UTC