An update from Wataynikaneyap Power:
In the early evening of Saturday, July 12, 2025, the Red Lake 62 wildfire damaged wood poles on the Wataynikaneyap Power transmission line segment between Red Lake and Pikangikum First Nation, resulting in outages in Pikangikum, Deer Lake, Sandy Lake, Poplar Hill, North Spirit Lake, and Keewaywin First Nations. Sandy Lake and Deer Lake First Nations have back up power. Pikangikum, Poplar Hill, North Spirit Lake and Keewaywin First Nations do not have back up power.
Wataynikaneyap Power, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), Hydro One, and the Provincial Emergency Response Organization (PEOC) are working together to safely organize crews and material for pole replacements. Ground crews started mobilizing on Sunday morning to prepare and begin the replacement work. Crews are prioritizing poles based on criticality to restore power. Further ground crews arrived yesterday and more will be arriving today to assist.
There continue to be a lot of variables which affect the work. If all goes according to plan, Wataynikaneyap Power is targeting power restoration by the end of the day (Tuesday, July 15, 2025). As noted, there are a lot of risks to this plan, including logistics around lodging far from the work sites moving crews around by air, weather affecting flights, risk of additional damage needing to be fixed, etc. Worker safety and restoration efforts are top priority.
The communities which do not have back up power require food, portable generators, and other supplies. Wataynikaneyap Power’s CEO advocated for an immediate food and other supplies delivery to the communities and is working with Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Keewaytinook Okimakanak, and Federal government to expedite approvals for emergency support. The Federal government, through ISC, was already providing emergency management assistance to the communities impacted by wildfires and working with Keewaytinook Okimakanak.
Wataynikaneyap Power would like to express our immense gratitude to all the organizations and people who have been working tirelessly to manage wildfire risk and restore grid power to remote First Nations over the past four days.
Wataynikaneyap Power thanks the Chiefs and Council Members for their advocacy on behalf of their People. We are keeping all the community members in the north in our thoughts and prayers.