Hour 4 of Ottawa Now for Fri. July 17th, 2026

Chief Helen Paavola was on a plane to Ottawa when the fire reached her community. She spent the morning calling for help and was told the smoke was coming from a wildfire that was still at a safe distance. Before long, the fire was on top of the community. Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, also known as Collins, is north of Lake Nipigon. Its members got themselves out Monday in a handful of small boats. “The evacuation was done by them. There was no federal, provincial help. There was no other ministry or any entity or whatever you want to call it out there to help them. They did this...