Residents of five northwestern Ontario communities were ordered to leave their homes on Tuesday as forest fires spread, with parts of several highways also closed and Wabakimi Provincial Park shut until July 20.
Ontario Provincial Police said evacuation orders are in place for Armstrong, Lac La Croix First Nation, Collins First Nation, Whitesand First Nation and Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation. Emergency Management Ontario said residents should head south to Thunder Bay, and Ontario forest fire officials said the province was responding to 160 active wildland fires.
The orders came as much of northern Ontario sat under a severe heat warning and the humidex made it feel as hot as 40 C. In the northwest region, there were 128 active fires as of Monday evening, and 53 of them were still not under control even though eight were being held, four were under control and 63 were being observed.
Sol Mamakwa said the wildfire has destroyed Collins First Nation, a statement that captures how fast the fires have moved through the area. The fire was also threatening Rainy River District and Gull Bay First Nation, while the Ontario Provincial Police said people in Ignace, Crystal Lake and the Highway 633 area should prepare for possible evacuations.
That leaves a widening map of risk across the northwest region, with one set of communities already out, another told to get ready and no sign yet that the pressure on roads, homes and emergency crews is easing. The next question is not whether the fires are still active — they are — but how many more communities will be forced to move before the weather breaks.
