A massive swath of the province outside of North Bay continues to burn after lightning from storms triggered fires that are raging out of control due to high winds.At least 3,000 hectares are in flames in the North Bay district, which stretches from north of North Bay to Temagami. Further to the north, another 12,000 hectares are burning in Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park. Numerous other fires are being held or brought under control while still others, in less populated areas, are being monitored.“On a day like today, where there’s a lot of sun, those fires not under control are expected to grow,” says Shayne McCool, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. A change of wind direction, from north to south on Tuesday, meant the smoke was likely visible to the residents of North Bay, he says.About 20 residences in the municipality of Temagami have been evacuated because of a 100-hectare fire and the town, which is about 90 kilometres northwest of North Bay, is on a voluntary evacuation notice. Fire rangers set up sprinkler systems to protect structures in the Temagami marina.Police say there is a “dangerously close, active forest fire” in the area, according to The Canadian Press, and residents have been asked to drive north on Highway 11 to escape the flames.The northeast has seen an increased number of forest fires this year. As of Tuesday morning, there were 69 active fires across that part of the province and 27 were not yet under control. Another nine were being held and the remainder were either under control or being observed. More fires were confirmed this morning after yesterday’s thunderstorms and the ministry said in a press release it expected to find several more. The “risk (of fire) is huge, because of the lack of precipitation that we’ve seen and the high amount of heat,” McCool says.About 400 firefighters from Ontario are working in the area. A relief crew of 85 ...
|
