Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services
Northeast Fire Region
June 8, 2019

Media Update
Time of Report - 22:23 hrs

Northeast Region

In the event there is a need to evacuate, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), Timmins District has recommended to the Gogama Local Services Board, a 2-hour alert notice for residents in the Gogama and surrounding areas. The Hamlet of Gogama currently has a voluntary evacuation in place. This is due to Timmins 2, an active forest fire burning on the west side of Highway 144.

This fire was discovered on the evening of June 6 and now covers 700 hectares. It has required aerial fire suppression every day since it was discovered. Heavy equipment and eleven (11) FireRanger crews are also assigned to the fire. The fire is burning parallel on the west side of Highway 144 and is approximately 4 kilometres west of the Hamlet of Gogama. The fire is spreading north northeast and is expected to spread north tomorrow. The fire has not crossed Highway 144 as of 20:30 hrs on June 8.

This afternoon Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services Branch (AFFES) was advised by the Ontario Provincial Police that smoke has resulted in the closure of Hwy 144 south of the watershed in both directions. The closure is from the intersection of Hwy 144 and Hwy 560 (south end junction), and from the intersection of Highway 144 and Highway 661 (north end junction).

Residents in the Porcupine and Nighthawk Lake areas may experience smoke drift into the evening. Public and community safety, and the safety of emergency response personnel is our number one priority.

For updates on highway closures, check Ontario 511 or @OPPCommunicationsNER on Twitter and Ontario Provincial Police-Northeast Region on Facebook.

For updates on the fire situation, visit ontario.ca/forestfire or follow us on Twitter @ONforestfires.

If residents of Gogama have any questions related to the alert or voluntary evacuation, they can contact Gogama Local Services Board (705-894-2555) or the Gogama Fire Chief (705-288-7178).

The situation is developing, and more information will be released as it becomes available.