Northern Ont. communities evacuating due to spreading wildfires
Communities affected by wildfires in the region are evacuating for safety reasons.
Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry said there is significant danger as several out-of-control wildfires affect air quality and physical safety.
“The Highway 810, Massey Tote Road area … we’re asking folks to leave that area immediately,” said ministry spokesperson Shayne McCool.
The MNRF also ordered the evacuation of campers and cottagers north of Abitibi Lake, East of Iroquois falls, where one of the region’s largest fires is raging on at more than 4,200 hectares.
A similar sized fire is burning in the Sudbury area, which quadrupled from just more than 1,000 hectares within 24 hours.
There are currently 33 active fires in the region, 29 of them not under control and all discovered within the last two weeks.
Ontario’s fire season is off to a scorching start. Last year saw a total of 78 wildfires and this year has already far surpassed that with 167.
“The 10-year average for this time of year is 157 fires,” said McCool.
“So, you can see we’ve now climbed over our 10-year average and we are seeing new fire starts regularly, throughout this week.”
McCool said much of the spike in forest fires can be attributed to lightning and dry conditions, but that the ministry will investigate the cause of every fire.
Meanwhile, smoke from those fires is affecting nearby communities. Mattagami First Nation, south of Timmins, is evacuating vulnerable people. Apitipi Anicinapek Nation, just by Abitibi Lake, is also considering evacuation plans.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.