Wildfire-related power outages have now hit 6 First Nations in northwestern Ontario

People in Pikangikum First Nation are using the little fuel they have left to shine headlights into their homes as a way to escape the darkness as wildfires continue to damage hydro poles in the region.

The remote Ojibway community in northwestern Ontario has been without power for three days. Five other communities in the region — Deer Lake, Sandy Lake, Poplar Hill, North Spirit Lake and Keewaywin First Nations — are also now experiencing outages.

Paddy Peters, chief of Pikangikum, said area wildfires have damaged six poles along the Wataynikaneyap Power line, creating a chain reaction in half a dozen First Nations.

"People are running out of food," said Peters. "We need a lot of fresh food in our community. We need baby milk, Enfamil, Pampers. We need lights."

Tiziana Baccega Rosa, senior media relations adviser for Hydro One, provided an emailed statement to CBC News just after 5 p.m. ET on Monday. 

"Through its distribution system, Hydro One Remote Communities, a subsidiary of Hydro One Inc., provides electricity from Wataynikaneyap Power's transmission line to remote and isolated communities in Ontario's far north," Baccega Rosa said.

"Hydro One is mobilizing 20 transmission crew members along with off-road equipment to support Wataynikaneyap Power's restoration work."

While people in Deer Lake and Sandy Lake have access to power through emergency diesel, Baccega Rosa said well over 1,000 customers in the other four First Nations are without power.

An update from Sandy Lake First Nation said crews were expected to replace the first hydro pole on Monday.

"Hydro One has also offered assistance and is moving additional equipment in from Kenora and Dryden," the First Nation said on Facebook on Monday afternoon.

Internet, cell and telephone lines remain down.

Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations across Treaties 9 and 5, sent an emailed statement to CBC News on Monday.

"There is a growing concern with the threat to many of our remote communities including Pikangikum, Keewaywin and Poplar Hill," Fiddler said.

"We are worried about the elderly and those needing air conditioning, and the spoilage of food and harvested wild game in stored freezers. We have been in touch with Wataynikaneyap Power and hope that power can be restored as quickly as possible."