Deer Lake First Nation is preparing to declare a state of emergency and evacuate all remaining members due to a fire burning in and around the community.

As of Friday morning, the fire, known as Red Lake 12, was just over 7,100 hectares in size and not under control.

"It was about 200 feet from our local band office," Deer Lake Chief Leonard Mamakeesick told CBC News on Friday. "It's surrounded the airport already."

Mamakeesick said the fire worsened overnight due to shifting winds. He said he was working on getting a state of emergency declared.

While Deer Lake was already in the process of evacuating vulnerable community members, Mamakeesick said there are still more than 1,000 people in the community. They'll be taken to Toronto as part of the overall evacuation of the community.

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