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

Minimum wage rises in six provinces, but is it enough?
Amid a cost-of-living crisis driving up food bank visits and economic anxiety, the minimum wage increased in six provinces today – but both advocates and critics fear it may not be enough to tackle the overarching problem.
Half of millennials and Gen Z living paycheque-to-paycheque in Canada while stressing about climate crisis: survey
Struggling under the rising cost of living and an ever mounting fear of the climate crisis, young Canadians don’t see a positive future for themselves right now, according to a recent national survey.
Couple and dog killed by bear at Banff National Park
Two people are dead after a bear attack in Alberta's Banff National Park.
Ontario expands pharmacists' prescription powers to include 6 more common ailments
Ontario residents can now access treatment and medication for six more common ailments at pharmacies across the province.
Taylor Swift watches Travis Kelce's Chiefs take on the Jets at MetLife Stadium
Taylor Swift couldn't just shake off another chance to watch Travis Kelce on the football field. The 12-time Grammy Award winner arrived at MetLife Stadium about 40 minutes before kickoff Sunday night to watch Kelce and his Kansas City Chiefs take on the New York Jets.
Federal prisoner with terminal illness granted parole on compassionate grounds to die outside of jail
A terminally ill federal prisoner, who has been fighting for a compassionate release to die outside of jail, has been granted day parole.
'A giant in life': Saskatchewan Roughriders icon George Reed passes away, aged 83
George Reed, one of the most prolific running backs in Canadian Football League (CFL) history and a legend of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, has passed away. He was 83.
5 dead after single-vehicle crash near Swan River, Man.
Swan River RCMP are investigating a single-vehicle crash that killed five people in western Manitoba Saturday afternoon.
Tim Wakefield, who revived his career and Red Sox trophy case with knuckleball, has died at 57
Tim Wakefield, the knuckleballing workhorse of the Red Sox pitching staff who bounced back after giving up a season-ending home run to the Yankees in the 2003 playoffs to help Boston win its curse-busting World Series title the following year, has died. He was 57.