SHOAL LAKE 40 FIRST NATION — Thirty residents of a six-unit apartment complex were able to escape after an early morning fire destroyed the building on Saturday.
Chief Kevin Redsky said on Monday the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but arson is not suspected.
The Shoal Lake 40 Mobile Crisis Response Team, Anishinabe Mikinaa, quickly arrived on the scene. The entire building was destroyed when the Richer fire station arrived on the scene.
Redsky credits two individuals from the mobile crisis response team — James Mandanin and Jeffery Thompson — for getting everyone out of the building safely.
“[James and Jeffery’s] response is to be commended. Just amazing work by the first response team as a whole,” said Redsky.
Redsky said the Anishinabe Mikinaa mobile crisis response program was recently implemented in December.
We are very fortunate to have that program,” Redsky said. “It’s paid itself off and then some. An unbelievable response team.”
Some individuals suffered minor injuries but were able to get medical aid quickly.
"Two were treated for smoke inhalation and one had a small injury on his hand," Redsky said. "Other than that, they weren’t admitted to the hospital. They were treated on-site within the community.”
The chief and council, along with the Kenora Chiefs Advisory, have sent the 30 displaced residents to stay in Winnipeg as leadership prepares to find a short-term solution to bring their community members home.
The building was valued at $1.5 million, and the loss will put added pressure on the rampant housing crisis in the First Nation community where many homes are overcrowded and in poor condition.
“The short-term plan is that we are going to use our wellness camp as one of the units to house a family and a construction camp where we’re finalizing some renovations for a triplex. So, we do have a temporary plan in place, but it’s nowhere near what we need to accommodate these families for the long term,” said Redsky.
Redsky said leaders will be reaching out to community partners and government to address the need for more housing within their community.
“We’re slowly making progress and strategizing to find suitable housing for everybody, but here we are with six additional families that we are going to have to look after,” Redsky said.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help those displaced community members reclaim some of the items lost in the fire.
Redsky said all money raised through GoFundMe will be used to replace all personal items lost in the fire, and support with food and bills during this time.
"The immediate need is making sure they are safe and have clothes, food, and items for their kids," the chief said.
"But the loss itself is devastating. Everything owned and gathered throughout their life is gone. So, we will commit all those donations to furniture, electronics, and more clothing just to recover some of the losses they have gone through this weekend.”
For far GoFundMe has raised $22,675 of their $10,000 goal.
