(WINNIPEG, June 29, 2018) – The Marcel Colomb First Nation residents who were evacuated on Sunday are returning home to their community in northwestern Manitoba today.
As part of its agreement with the federal government to deliver emergency and disaster support to Manitoba First Nations, the Canadian Red Cross has been assisting the 96 registered evacuees from the community by providing lodging, food and other necessary support. The Canadian Red Cross was activated on Monday by the federal government to provide support to Marcel Colomb members.
After initially staying in Lynn Lake, the entire group was moved to Thompson, due to the proximity of wildfires, where they have been staying in a hotel since Tuesday. Evacuees are returning home either in their own vehicles or on a bus provided by the Red Cross.
As well, the last evacuees from Pauingassi First Nation in eastern Manitoba returned home by plane on Thursday. Once the evacuees from Marcel Colomb are back in their community, all of the more than 2,500 people evacuated due to wildfires that the Canadian Red Cross has supported in the past six weeks will have returned home.
The Canadian Red Cross has a team of trained volunteers who have the skills and resources to support evacuees in communities throughout Manitoba but more volunteers are needed. Anyone who wants to volunteer to help with future disasters can go to www.redcross.ca.
