Ontario Premier Doug Ford will travel to Thunder Bay on Saturday to meet evacuees and first responders as nearly 200 wildfires burn across northern Ontario, forcing multiple communities to evacuate. Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris is expected to accompany him.
Evacuations Expand as Wildfires Spread
Several northern Ontario communities, including Armstrong, Whitesand First Nation, Collins First Nation, and Gakijiwanong Anishinaabe Nation (Lac La Croix First Nation), are under mandatory evacuation orders. Other areas are preparing for potential evacuations as fires continue to spread, sending thick smoke across the province and into parts of the U.S.
Ontario Requests Federal Assistance
On Thursday, Minister of Emergency Preparedness Jill Dunlop announced she had formally requested support from the federal government, including military assistance, to accelerate evacuation efforts in the affected regions.
The situation remains fluid, with officials monitoring fire behavior and evacuation routes. Residents in high-risk areas are advised to stay alert for further instructions from local authorities.
