Fire ban declared in northern Ontario
An open-air fire ban declared by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in the north due to extreme forest fire hazard went into effect at midnight.
A restricted fire zone has been declared as of June 1 at 12:01 a.m. for the following areas:
- Atikokan
- Blind River
- Bracebridge
- Chapleau
- Cochrane
- Dryden
- Far North, northwest and southeast portions
- Fort Francis
- Geraldton
- Hearst
- Ignace
- Kapuskasing
- Kenora
- Kirkland Lake
- Minden
- Nipigon
- North Bay
- Parry Sound
- Pembroke
- Peterborough/Bancroft district, northern portion
- Red Lake
- Sault Ste. Marie
- Sioux Lookout
- Sudbury
- Thunder Bay
- Timmins
- Wawa
"No open-air burning, including campfires, is permitted within the boundaries of a Restricted Fire Zone. Portable gas or propane stoves may be used for cooking and warmth BUT must be handled with extreme caution. All burning permits are suspended," the MNRF said.
Here is a full list of outdoor fire restrictions.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Other northeastern communities have also issued municipal fire bans:
- Elliot Lake
- Hornepayne
- Killarney
- Muskoka
FOREST FIRES IN THE NORTHEAST
Three new forest fires were confirmed in the northeast Wednesday.
In the Timmins MNRF district, an 8.5-hectare fire began Wednesday night and is not under control.
One located about 25 kilometres northwest of Kirkland Lake and about two km east of Malloch Lake is being held at two hectares.
A one-hectare fire began in the Sudbury District on Wednesday night and is being held.
There are also three active fires in the northeast as of Thursday morning.
Both Wawa 2 and 3 are not yet under control. Wawa 2 remains at 105 hectares, while Wawa 3 is at 5,770.4 hectares.
A 45-hectare fire in the Cochrane District that started May 28 is being observed.
With the hot and dry conditions over the last week and the possible thunderstorms in the forecast, we could see more.
HIGHWAY 631 REOPENED
Highway 631, a critical road to the community of Hornepayne, reopened Wednesday just before 5 p.m.
Fire and smoke were causing visibility issues forcing the road to close
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
WATCH LIVE 'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
World's record-breaking hot temperature streak stretches through April
The world just experienced its hottest April on record, extending an 11-month streak in which every month set a temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said on Wednesday.