View all

Northern Ontario Wildfire Season Worse Than Ever

Northwestern Ontario has been burning for more than a week. As of this week, there are roughly 190 active fires across the province's north.

Thunder Bay 36, which started as a 100-hectare fire on July 12, has grown past 300,000 hectares in the time since, one fire now covering more than five times the land area of the City of Toronto.

Fort Frances 14, a separate fire further south, is over 55,000 hectares.Ten First Nations communities have been evacuated so far.

Eabametoong First Nation, more than 300 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, has evacuated most of its members by air since this weekend, with roughly 600 people expected to be moved in the first phase.

Armstrong, Whitesand First Nation, and communities near Lac des Mille Lacs are also under evacuation order.

Highway 527 remains closed between Gull Bay First Nation and the Highway 811 junction.More than 150 fire crews and 80 aircraft are working the fire region, with additional crews sent from Alberta and the Yukon.

Smoke from the fires has pushed air quality warnings as far south as Toronto.

Our thoughts are with the communities and brave firefighters on the front lines.

We are all hoping for a change in the weather and some relief soon.

Sources: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, CBC News, and Ontario Forest Fires official channels.

Interested to help on our mission?
Get in Touch