Forest fire updates

Forest fire season is in full strength across the country with many lightning sparked fires igniting tinder-dry forests.

Quebec

Lightning has started several forest fires in Quebec this week.

800 firefighters have been called in to fight at least a dozen forest fires north of Montreal.

1300 people were evacuated last night from the Wemotaci native reservation due to thick smoke.

Several dozen more people were evacuated from the Obedjiwan reserve, near La Tuque, Quebec.

Two more fires have started in the Abitibi region in western Quebec near the Ontario border.

Quebec currently has a ban on open fires throughout most of the province.

Ontario

A busy fire week is expected in Ontario after the high temperatures combined with lots of lightning.

Today a forest fire has closed Hwy 101 and Hwy 109, east of Hawk Junction, near Sault Ste. Marie.

Several other lightning sparked fires are burning across northern Ontario.

Yukon Territory

The Yukon Territory has an open fire ban due to the high fire risk. Fires are currently burning - many started by lightning - but are in wilderness areas that do not pose a threat to Yukon residents.

Several firefighters from the Yukon are in Alaska helping fight a large forest fire that has closed 40 kilometres of the Alaska Highway near Tok. That fire grew from 2 hectares to 688 hectares on Wednesday.

More Information

Current Fire Situation Report