Out-of-control fire rages southeast of Cobalt, Ont.
What was a 164-hectare fire is now 134 acres, and is burning three kilometres southeast of Cobalt near the east shore of Kerr Lake, the province’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services says.
“A team of ground crews and aerial fire suppression aircraft … Services remain on the scene of North Bay 5 at the time of this update,” the organization said.
“It is currently not under control. Please remain clear of the area to ensure the safety of the public and emergency personnel.”
Officials told CTV News' Eric Taschner that three fire crews are working on North Bay 5, with another five crews on the way.
Evan Lizotte, MNRF fire information officer, said while still out of control, conditions are improving.
“Yesterday was a lot more smoky and the fire behaviour was a little more intense,” Lizotte told CTV.
“We just ask that individuals to please stay clear from the area to ensure their safety and the safety of our personnel.”
A 164-hectare fire is burning three kilometres southeast of Cobalt near the east shore of Kerr Lake, the province’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services says. (Photos courtesy of Richard J. Morrow)
A 164-hectare fire is burning three kilometres southeast of Cobalt near the east shore of Kerr Lake, the province’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services says. (Photos courtesy of Richard J. Morrow)Mayor Angela Adshead told CTV News anchor Ian Campbell that there’s a good chance the town will be OK.
“They sent some crews in,” Adshead said.
“There’s no risk to Cobalt at this time. We’re continuing to monitor the situation and the wind direction. As far as we can tell from the forecast, we should be OK.”
Both Colbalt and nearby Coleman are under a complete fire ban.
Up-to-date wildfire information can be found here.
In addition to Cobalt, there were seven wildland fires confirmed in the Northeast Region by the late afternoon of May 23:
Chapleau 3 is a 0.2-hectare fire that is not under control and is located approximately 1 kilometre southwest of Beaverflood Lake in Vimy Lake Uplands Conservation Reserve.
Kirkland Lake 1 is located approximately 12 kilometres east of Englehart. It is a 0.7-hectare fire that was confirmed this afternoon. It is located near the intersection of Allen Rd and Concession 4 Ingram. It is not under control. There is 1 crew committed to this fire.
North Bay 4 is a 0.4-hectare fire that is not under control and located approximately 1 kilometre northeast of Jocko Rivers Provincial Park.
North Bay 5 is 164-hectare fire located 3 kilometres southeast of the community of Cobalt near the east shore of Kerr Lake. It is currently not under control.
Sudbury 10 is a two-hectare fire located six kilometres east of Nairn Centre on the south shore of the Spanish River. This fire is not under control and is receiving aerial suppression.
Timmins 3 is located at the southeast corner of Lower Opikinimika Lake. This seven-hectare fire is not under control.
Timmins 4 is located at the south end of Ellery Lake near Dana-Jowsey Lakes Provincial Park. This fire is 0.1 hectares in size and is not under control.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
As of Friday afternoon, the fire hazard is low across most of the Northeast Region except for a band stretching from Manitoulin to Parry Sound and extending north to Timmins and North Bay that ranges from high to extreme fire hazard.
Correction
This story has been corrected to show the fire is burning southeast of the community.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6977053.1721909931!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'Sick to my stomach': People grieve Jasper National Park by sharing favourite photos
As an out-of-control wildfire roared through Alberta’s famed Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday, many are fearing the worst as officials warned of 'significant loss' within the area.
Jasper wildfire burns buildings, while poor air quality forces some fire crews out
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta's request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.
Canadian women's soccer team staffer given suspended prison sentence over drone incident, prosecutor says
A Canada women's soccer team staffer has been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence after flying a drone to film the closed-door training session of the New Zealand team on Monday, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.
Sale of envoy's NYC condo 'expected to exceed' $9M: government
The current official residence for Canada's representative in New York City is 'being readied for sale,' according to a spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada.
'I'm so broke': Two Toronto women speak out after losing $76,000 in romance scam
Two women from the Toronto area are speaking out after losing thousands of dollars to a romance scam, including a single mother who lost $62,000.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Loblaw to settle class action over bread price-fixing for $500 million
Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and its parent company George Weston Ltd. say they have agreed to pay $500 million to settle a pair of class-action lawsuits regarding their involvement in an alleged bread price-fixing scheme.
EXCLUSIVE One address, 76 foreign currency dealers: Inside Canada's money service business 'clusters'
An IJF and CTV News investigation has found dozens of cases across Canada where multiple money services businesses (MSBs) are incorporated at the same address, sometimes without the knowledge or consent of the location's actual occupant. One money laundering expert calls it an 'abuse of the system.'
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.