THUNDER BAY — Nearly 400 evacuees from Eabametoong First Nation who sought shelter in Thunder Bay are all expected to be back in their homes within a matter of days.
Vulnerable residents of the community, were flown 370 kilometres south to Thunder Bay on Aug. 12 because of heavy smoke from a forest fire.
The fire no longer poses a threat.
On the weekend, about 60 evacuees returned so they could be home in time for the funeral of an elder.
The remainder are expected to leave Thunder Bay by air on Wednesday or Thursday.
Eabametoong Chief Harvey Yesno says returning residents are required to self-isolate for 14 days as part of the community's COVID-19 protocol.
Other measures have also been taken, he said, to reduce the risk of residents being infected by someone who's picked up the virus in the city.
"You will not go into the community if you don't get test-swabbed first," Yesno said. "We're doing everything possible, with our various partners."
He noted that Eabametoong, with only about 1,600 people, has had four positive COVID-19 cases since April.
