A number of communities have ordered to be evacuated due to the ongoing and rapidly-changing wildfire situation.

Editor’s note: The current wildfire situation is evolving quickly and subject to change. Newswatch is compiling the most up-to-date information we can confirm. If you are aware of any new or updated information, please let us know here.

Please consult your local officials and call 211 for fire and safety information in your immediate area. New fires can be reported by calling 310-FIRE (3473). Please call 911 in case of a medical emergency or immediate threat to safety.

NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO — Numerous evacuations remain in place due to serious forest fires continuing to burn across the region.

And federal and provincial leaders say both senior levels of government are responding and further ready to do so.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hajdu said the federal government is “ready to support Ontario if this exceeds their capacity and they make a request for federal assistance.” She added that Public Safety Canada remains in “direct contact” with the province about this.

“We are working directly with First Nations through Indigenous Services Canada,” Hajdu said.

In his own statement on Wednesday, Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford said that “several hundred” Ontario wildland firefighters and nearly 40 aircraft, like helicopters and waterbombers, are active.

“My team and I have been in ongoing discussions with the appropriate ministries, agencies and emergency management partners to ensure we are prepared and doing everything possible to stay ahead of an unpredictable and rapidly evolving situation,” he said, adding that they are coordinating with municipal, federal and Indigenous partners.

Fire update:

The Ministry of Natural Resources said Wednesday the number of active fires in the Northwest jumped to 183 as of Wednesday afternoon, up from the 148 as of the Aviation Forest Fire and Emergency Services’ end-of-day update Tuesday.

Additionally, wildfire officials told Newswatch that “discussions are underway to host crew and equipment resources from out-of-province.”

Virtually all of the Northwest is under a high or extreme fire hazard, as of Wednesday afternoon.

Active evacuations:

Wildfires have also forced the evacuations of six other communities as of Wednesday morning, according to the OPP.


Armstrong
Gakijiwanong Anishinaabe Nation (Lac La Croix First Nation)
Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (KZA or Gull Bay First Nation)
Namaygoosisagagun (Collins First Nation)
Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation
Whitesand First Nation

A spokesperson for Cat Lake First Nation told Newswatch Wednesday a state of emergency was called on Tuesday and that the community was advised by the Ministry of Natural Resources to evacuate and is ready to do so. The community lost power at around 4:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, the spokesperson said.

Several wildfires are burning in the vicinity of the remote First Nation, located about 400 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay.

Kuhkenah Network, or K-Net, which provides telecommunications services to many First Nations across the province, particularly in the far north, said terrestrial broadband, landline and cellular services are also currently offline in Cat Lake as of Tuesday due to the same fires.

Evacuation preparedness warnings:

According to provincial police, several other communities are being advised to prepare for a possible evacuation due to nearby forest fires.


Atikokan
Crystal Lake
Ignace
Niobi Lake
Pickle Lake
Quetico Provincial Park
Upsala

Highway closures:

The Trans-Canada between Highway 633 and Highway 623 east of Atikokan was reported to be reopened by Ontario 511’s highway traveller information service and Ontario Provincial Police Tuesday evening.

OPP advised drivers that wildfire crews may be present in the area and urged drivers to be cautious and avoid non-essential travel.

Two other secondary highways in the Northwest remained closed as of Wednesday morning — Highway 599 from its intersection with Highway 516 to just south of Mishkeegogamang First Nation, and Highway 527 from Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (Gull Bay First Nation) to Armstrong.

What we know so far:

“Our hearts are with all of our communities facing the threat of these devastating fires,” said a statement from Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, issued on behalf of the treaty organization’s executive council. “The situation is changing hour by hour and we are in close contact with community leadership across our territory to ensure our people are supported and safe.”

The statement from NAN, which represents 49 First Nations across Ontario’s far north, added that “several First Nations are under immediate threat and others remain on standby to evacuate.”

In a statement to Newswatch, Nastassia Varela, spokesperson for Ontario’s Emergency Preparedness Minister Jill Dunlop, said “due to the significant wildland fire activity, a number of communities across Northwestern Ontario have made the decision to self-evacuate.”

“The Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response is coordinating evacuation efforts with community leadership, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), and the Ministry of Natural Resources,” and that “all evacuees will receive appropriate wraparound supports including health care, education and social services.”

Newswatch requested more information Wednesday from Indigenous Services Canada.

On Tuesday, the province told Newswatch, that “impacted residents should follow the direction of local authorities and follow any evacuation orders.”

No more accommodations for evacuees were reportedly available in Thunder Bay, according to a statement to the KZA community posted to social media by the First Nation’s leadership. Gull Bay officials said the community is working with Indigenous Services Canada to facilitate transport of some members to Toronto, and added later in the day Wednesday that they were able to secure “some local accommodation” in Thunder Bay for their members.

Thunder Bay Fire Rescue division chief Kevin Anderson told Newswatch on Tuesday the city is speaking with provincial officials about “how we can assist,” during the current slate of evacuations, adding that many people coming to Thunder Bay were driving themselves here and either staying in the city (in some cases, with family or friends) or going elsewhere.

OPP Sgt. Theresa Wabason, media relations officer for the OPP’s Northwest region, told Newswatch on Tuesday where evacuees are going is up to each individual community.

The province is working to identify additional host sites for evacuees, provincial officials said.

Wildfires in that part of the region also forced the stoppage of freight trains hauling combustible products and a CN Rail crew saw flames from a rapidly-advancing forest fire catch up to their train.

A longtime tourist lodge operator has told Newswatch his operation has been destroyed and he’s desperate to find help — particularly a helicopter — for four stranded canoeists in Wabakimi Provincial Park.

Elsewhere in the Northwest, K-Net also said terrestrial broadband internet and cellular services are currently offline in Mishkeegogamang due to wildfires between Savant Lake and Mishkeegogamang along Highway 599.

Other K-Net communities experiencing outages as of Wednesday included:


North Spirit Lake (terrestrial broadband, landline and cellular services)
Wunnumin Lake (terrestrial broadband and landline services)
Kingfisher Lake (terrestrial broadband and landline services)
Slate Falls (terrestrial broadband)

The Ministry of Natural Resources has issued a restricted fire zone across much of the Northwest. Thunder Bay and other area municipalities have also banned open burning.

Environment Canada was maintaining heat and air quality warnings across much of the region Wednesday. Weather and public health officials have warned about the dangers of wildfire smoke and steps people can take to mitigate them.

“Forest fires are unpredictable and we just want everyone to be safe,” Wabason said. “So, we ask that people respect what our first responders are doing, listen to their instruction and pay attention to any of the road closures through the MTO.”

“We’re working as best we can to help everyone … our hearts go out to the families who have been evacuated.”

-With files from Mike Stimpson

UPDATE: This story was last updated on July 15 at 4:40 p.m.