Parry Sound, Ont., community coming together as wildfire burns nearby

“We jumped at the opportunity,” said Derouin. “This situation is affecting members of our community, a lot of customers, family members and friends.”

Since summer is the peak season for his store, Derouin said he did not have enough hands to help pack the food in boxes and coolers, so he put out a call to the community.

“I thought there might be 50 or 60 people who would come to help us, but I ended up with over 200 people who came to volunteer their time,” he said. “It really was a community-driven event.”

The boxes and coolers were picked up Saturday morning and transported to the newly established command post in the nearby community of Britt, Ont. From there, they are flown to crews in the field.

The fire is now 76 square kilometres, and water bombers are trying to cut it down, said Shayne McCool, a spokesman for the Ministry of Natural Resources. It’s only seven kilometres away from a stretch of the Trans Canada highway, so the ministry and provincial police are monitoring the situation closely, he said.

If the smoke is heavy enough, McCool said a portion of the highway could be closed.

Derouin said he has already received orders for Sunday and will be continuing to provide food for the firefighters in the upcoming weeks.

“I think the seriousness and the severity around this fire is really starting to take shape,” he said. “We did have people here today that are most likely going to lose their buildings and cottages and homes.

“We also had people who were not directly affected, but simply wanted to help the best they could.”

Gabriele Roy, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Parry Sound, Ont., community coming together as wildfire burns nearby

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