A State of Emergency has been declared in Pikangikum First Nation due to a nearby forest fire.
Chief Mandi Chan-Peters confirms on Facebook that community evacuations will begin this morning.
She says medically compromised individuals, anyone who is pregnant, and infants born in 2018-2019 will be first priority.
First Nation leadership have submitted an evacuation list to Rangers who are now assisting.
The Chief says a Hercules aircraft will be relocating residents, with Kapuskasing acting as the host town for now.
The fire has skipped over the Berens River and Chan-Peters says is now burning 3-kilometres from Taxi Bay.
Thunder Bay is preparing to receive about 300 of the evacuees over the next 48 hours.
The city is also going to act as a transportation hub for any other evacuees that need to be sent to other northern communities.
