Carney Reconvenes Incident Response Group as Wildfires Escalate Across Canada
Canadian Armed Forces deployed to support Sandy Lake First Nation evacuations as governments coordinate national wildfire response
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney reconvened the federal Incident Response Group on Saturday to address the worsening wildfire crisis affecting communities across the country, with a renewed focus on Ontario’s Sandy Lake First Nation.
The meeting brought together senior ministers and officials for updated briefings on wildfire response efforts, including emergency evacuations, federal-provincial coordination, and Indigenous community support. Among the latest developments, the Canadian Armed Forces have been mobilized to assist with the evacuation of residents from Sandy Lake First Nation, a remote northern community facing imminent wildfire threats.
“Various arms of the federal government remain in close contact with provincial leaders and Indigenous authorities,” the Prime Minister’s Office stated in a readout. “All orders of government are engaged, and support efforts are being escalated.”
As wildfires persist in communities across Canada, I convened the Incident Response Group to discuss efforts involving all orders of government to fight the fires and support evacuations.
Most recently, Canadian Armed Forces personnel have been mobilized to assist with the…
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) June 8, 2025
Wildfires have continued to burn throughout Western and Northern Canada in recent weeks, with hundreds of residents already displaced in Manitoba, Alberta, and now northern Ontario. The Sandy Lake evacuations follow earlier efforts in Mathias Colomb Cree Nation and several other high-risk areas.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to first responders, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and local officials for their work on the front lines. He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to provide additional support as needed, whether through logistics, emergency resources, or aid coordination.
The Incident Response Group—Canada’s emergency decision-making body—has met repeatedly over the past two weeks to tackle the growing wildfire threat, which experts warn could be among the worst in recent history due to dry conditions and high winds across several provinces.
In addition to military assistance, federal officials are working closely with the Canadian Red Cross and provincial emergency services to coordinate temporary lodging, food, and supplies for evacuees. The government continues to encourage Canadians to follow local evacuation advisories and stay informed through provincial emergency updates.
As the 2025 wildfire season intensifies, Ottawa’s multi-level response will remain active and adaptive, especially in support of Indigenous communities disproportionately affected by these emergencies.
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