Fire fighters were moved into the area in an attempt to check the fire which spread rapidly, fanned by a strong wind, in a northwesterly direction, and then turned northeast jumping the Hudson highway, and coming close to the Royal Canadian Air Force Radar Station and Pelican school, both of which were evacuated Saturday evening with evacuees being billeted in town at various halls and in private homes.
On Saturday afternoon a thick pall of smoke hung over the town and plans for evacuation were made with every householder being phoned personally and advised to pack a few belongings and be ready to evacuate when the town siren sounded.
Meanwhile the fire had jumped across Pelican Lake to a point northeast of town, at the same time following the southerly shore of the lake towards the CNR railroad bridge. By this time the Department of Lands and Forests with the assistance of the police pressed into service, an army of fire fighters which according to our information is now 300 strong, and is being assisted by the two Canso water-dropping aircraft, four helicopters, Lands and Forests planes, and other commercial aircraft. When Sunday dawned, the situation had worsened and there was fear that should the wind shift into the north or northwest, the town would be threatened.
An emergency meeting of Council was called with representatives of the Fire Department, Police, CNR and Lands and Forests and the situation was assessed. The general opinion was that the town be evacuated and the decision would rest with the District Forester, A. Baxter, who would give the word to proceed.
The order came about 1:15 p.m. Sunday when the sirens were sounded and people proceeded by car to Dryden and also to the CN station where a train of boxcars was standing by. The neighboring town of Dryden, through Mayor Alan Durance, had issued an invitation to citizens of Sioux Lookout to come over and they would be billeted and looked after. Patients were evacuated from both hospitals and pupils from the Indian School were alerted once more and loaded into boxcars. After the train had been filled it moved slowly out of the yard and headed for its destination about eight miles east of town.
The fire fighters then concentrated on the fire area to the north of town while crews were spotted at danger points along the route taken by the fire to the west. At one time, it looked as if the TV tower on top of Sioux Mountain as well as Moosehorn Camps would be engulfed but, although the fire came very close to both places, they both escaped.
After supper, the situation appeared to ease somewhat and routine patrols were kept on during the night. Finally, the word came through for the return of the train, which arrived back at the CN station about 11 o'clock, the passengers being none the worse for their enforced journey, and glad to get back to their homes.
On Saturday afternoon, the fire cut the Hydro line and power was cut off in town and rural areas, from 2 p.m. Saturday until 6 a.m. Sunday. Residents who left by car are not able to return until all danger is past. This will depend on the wind direction and velocity coupled with the present state of the fire which is described as "not yet under control".
Representatives from CBC TV Winnipeg and various newspapers flew into town on the trail of news and pictures and were in full agreement that the length of the airport runway left a lot to be desired. This brought once more into action the representation made for years on this very subject by the local Chamber of Commerce. Had the present situation been such that a last minute evacuation of citizens by air had to be ordered because of exits by road or rail being cut, the resulting catastrophe is a grim one to contemplate of a populace caught like rats in a trap because of the short airport runway which cannot accommodate larger aircraft. According to Lands and Forests officials there has been a total of 18 fires to date in the Sioux Lookout area with approximately 8,000 acres burned. The only casualties reported were injuries to Hugh Williams, a Bell Telephone employee who was struck by a falling tree and rushed to hospital suffering from back lacerations and injuries to his right ankle.
Two trailers at the Radar Base were destroyed by fire. Also, a few of the buildings were scorched and one of the radomes damaged. It is remarkable that the base was not destroyed since it is located in the center of the burn area. At the time of going to press (on June 6), evacuated citizens are returning by car from Dryden.