PHOTOS: Ontario fires burn out of control, see smoky skies
Digital Reporter
Monday, July 23, 2018, 5:43 PM - Travel restrictions are in place and families have been forced to flee as forest fires in northern Ontario continue to rage.
As of Sunday evening, over 60 active forest fires were reported across northeastern Ontario, with three new blazes in the Cochrane area.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) imposed a mandatory evacuation for residents surrounding French River Provincial Park as one fire near Parry Sound, referred to as Parry Sound 33, continued to burn out of control.
In the Pembroke area there are two fires located close to the Algonquin Park border that have recently merged, and are now burning at an estimated 800 hectares.
Other fires continue to burn in Sudbury, North Bay and Temagami.
Assistance from across Canada and as far away as Mexico have joined forest fire fighting efforts in the northeast region, according to the MNRF.
Meanwhile, in northwestern Ontario, 72 active fires were recorded as of Sunday evening. Up to 80 residents were evacuated in the area of Wabaseemoong (Whitedog) Independent First Nation due to air quality concerns as a result of Kenora Fire 71, which is over 9,000 hectares in size.
On a brighter note, between 20-30+ mm of rain could fall in parts of northern Ontario through Tuesday, with showers expected through the rest of the work week. Temperatures will also be slightly cooler as we head into late week.
