'Not afraid to stay': The Canadians taking fighting wildfires into their own hands

When a wildfire ignited near the Gull Bay First Nation community in northern Ontario, resident Hubert Wigwas chose to remain. He installed sprinklers on his roof, monitored nearby elders, and prepared four boats in case of an emergency. Wigwas, a councillor for 58 years, explained that he would not abandon his home. Canada has experienced some of its worst fire seasons in recent years, with 2023 being the most destructive on record.

Over 750 wildfires are actively burning across the country as of August, causing significant smoke pollution reaching the US Midwest. Wigwas' concerns about insufficient firefighters and resources prompted him to advocate for a local wildfire emergency response plan. The Chief of Gull Bay First Nation had urged residents to evacuate since mid-July, but Wigwas questioned why help had not yet arrived despite a nearby wildfire.

Dave Bradley, a spokesperson for Ontario's natural resources ministry, confirmed that they are in contact with First Nations leaders but cannot comment on Wigwas' specific situation. In British Columbia, a province often at the forefront of Canada's wildfire response, communities are taking proactive measures to protect themselves.

Sonja Leverkus, a wildfire researcher and specialist, has trained over 400 people in her area on wildfire response. They have conducted prescribed burns to reduce fuel loads, provided fire wagons for small fires, and organized structural protection training. Leverkus and her team, primarily indigenous, have also stepped in to support provincial firefighting efforts when needed.

Some residents, like 70-year-old former helicopter pilot Cam Allen, have taken the initiative to learn fire suppression techniques. Allen emphasized the importance of staying behind to protect one's home, drawing a comparison to John Carr, who saved his California home from burning during a recent wildfire despite defying evacuation orders.