Residents Evacuated, Roads Closed As Nearly 200 Wildfires Rage Across Northern Ontario

An interactive fire map showing active (red) and new (orange) fires in Ontario as of July 15, 3 p.m. ET. The map is maintained by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and is compiled via reports from over 130 weather stations across the province. Screenshot by The Epoch Times via Ontario.ca

Nearly 200 wildfires are burning across northern Ontario, forcing evacuations and highway closures while sending smoke south into Toronto and parts of the United States.

There were 183 active wildland fires listed on an interactive map from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources as of 3 p.m. ET on July 15, the majority in northwestern Ontario.

An update on July 14 listed 185 active fires across the region. In the northwest, 69 fires were classified as out of control, seven were being held, five were under control, and 67 were being monitored. In the northeast, five fires were listed as out of control, three were being held, one was under control, and 28 were being monitored.

Evacuations

The fires continue to threaten the safety of several northern communities according to an update posted in the evening of July 14 by the Ontario Provincial Police Northwest Region.

Evacuation orders have also been issued for a number of towns in the north of the province including Armstrong, Ont., which is located about 3.5 hours north of Thunder Bay.

In one incident, Canadian National Railway work crew members narrowly escaped after their train car became surrounded by flames on July 13 near Armstrong.

Evacuation orders have also been issued for residents of Gull Bay First Nation, Collins First Nation, also known as Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, Lac La Croix First Nation, Whitesand First Nation and Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation.

The province also lists additional “fires of note” affecting the Quetico Provincial park, the town of Atikokan, the Upsala area, McDowell First Nation, Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, as well as Gakijiwanong Anishinaabe Nation, and the wider Lac Des Mille Lacs area.

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige says Namaygoosisagagun First Nation has been “devastated” by the wildfire.

“We’re aware that community members were forced to carry out an emergency evacuation without the support of emergency services, and based on information currently available, all community members known to have been in the community at the time have been accounted for; however, this will be confirmed pending a full assessment,” Debassige wrote in a July 15 update.

The First Nation has roughly 40 members and is located approximately 200 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. It has no road access, which led to residents evacuating on boats.

Smoke Reaching Toronto

Smoke from the wildfires has been reported in Toronto, where air quality and heat warnings have been issued for residents.

Although Environment Canada says conditions may begin to improve by July 17, the agency cautioned that there is “very poor air quality” in Toronto, along with reduced visibility and health risks.

“During heavy smoke conditions, everyone’s health is at risk regardless of their age or health status,” the agency wrote in a July 15 update.

“Limit time outdoors. Reschedule or cancel outdoor sports, activities and events.”

Ontario’s Air Quality Health Index, which ranks health risk from one to 10+, shows several communities with forecast maximums of “10+ very high risk.”

Smoke from the wildfires has also been reported from as far as New York City, across the U.S. northeast, and New England.

Highways Closed, Fire Restrictions

The wildfires have also led to the closure of Highway 599 between Highway 516 and Mishkeegogamang First Nation as well as Highway 527 between Gull Bay First Nation and Armstrong. These sections were still closed as of the morning of July 15.

The ministry of transportation also warned that fires are restricted in the northeast region of Ontario, with the ministry of natural resources saying the ban will stay in place “until further notice.”

The ban suspends any open-air burning including campfires within the designated zones, and the province is also asking people to use extra caution with gas stoves or propane used for cooking or heating.

High wind conditions and “elevated” burning areas are making it more complicated to fight the fires, and crews are prioritizing “protection of life, property and infrastructure,” according to the ministry.

“The types of wildland fires we are seeing on the landscape, either large in size or close to communities or other important structures or resources, require the full deployment of our available resources,” the ministry says.

Ontario has had 453 wildland fires in the provincial fire region so far this year, compared with 349 last year and a ten-year rolling average of 312.