Ontario Forest Fires says 44 active wildland fires now burning in northeast

The forest fire hazard is high across the northeast region, with 44 active wildland fires burning as of Wednesday evening. (Ontario Forest Fires photo)

The total number of active wildland fires continues to rise in northeast Ontario with 8 new fires confirmed by the Ministry of Natural Resources in their daily update they evening of July 15.

• Wawa 17 (WAW017) 12 hectare fire that is not under control located 4 kilometers east of White Lake.
• Wawa 18 (WAW018) is a 0.1 hectare fire and is not under control located 500 meters west of White Lake.
• Wawa 19 (WAW019) is a 0.1 hectare fire located on the western shore of Loonskin Lake 7 kilometres west of Hawk Junction. The fire is not under control.
• Wawa 20 (WAW020) is 0.8 hectares and is not under control located 6 kilometres southwest of Bishop Lake.
• Haliburton 22 (HAL022) is 0.9 hectare fire located 1 kilometre west of McNulty Lake and is not under control.
• North Bay 26 (NOR026) is a 0.3 hectare fire and is not under control located southeast of MacPherson Lake.
• Timmins 22 (TIM022) is 1 hectare fire located 4 kilometres southwest of Ant Island Lake. The fire is not under control.
• Cochrane 41 (COC041) is 1 hectares and is not under control located near Wellington Creek south of Highway 11 and 21 kilometres west of Smooth Rock Falls.

Of the 44 active wildland fires in the northeast region, 9 are not under control, 3 are being held, 4 are under control and 28 are being observed.

Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner toured the Carling Fire department Wednesday to see firsthand the wildland firefighting equipment and to discuss how local fire stations are dealing with more forest fires.

“Every year when the Ontario budget comes out in the spring, including this year, you see a cut in the budget for wildland fire fighting,” Schreiner told CTV News Wednesday.

“We need to have fully funded crews.”

He suggested the province launch a forest fire management and wildfire prevention program to protect communities.

In the last budget, the province allotted $150 million for emergency forest fighting in 2026-27.

NDP Leader Marit Stiles said the wildfire scenes are “terrifying” and she has been talking to MPPs in the area, including Sol Mamakwa who is in Thunder Bay.

“The Ontario Greens have been calling on the Ford government to make the proper investments we need in wildland fire fighters, ensuring they get fair wages, have proper PPE, equipment and training prior to our firefighting seasons so they are better prepared to protect us,” Schreiner said.

With files from the Canadian Press