Narrow Escape: Construction Crew Survives Wildfire Inferno

Wildfire forces Ontario construction crew to seek shelter in shipping container; dramatic video emerges. A construction crew working near Sandy Lake First Nation in Ontario faced a terrifying ordeal on June 7, 2025, when an out-of-control wildfire closed in on them. The crew of 19, mainly from Manitoba, were creating firebreaks when the fire rapidly spread. "Everything here was on fire, all the trees," said Neal Gillespie, the supervisor of Milstone Environmental Contracting Inc., in a video he posted to social media. The video shows massive flames and thick smoke. Gillespie explained that helicopters couldn't reach them due to the dense smoke. The crew sheltered in a shipping container until they could safely drive out in a convoy to Sandy Lake First Nation. The container was later destroyed by the fire. Their escape highlights the unpredictable nature of wildfires and the bravery of those working on the front lines. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing wildfire crisis affecting the region.