Day: July 21, 2026

A developing story from Thunder Bay: Nearly a dozen communities across northern Ontario are currently under an orange air quality warning, say provincial authorities. According to the provincial government, air quality warnings are jointly issued by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Under the alert program, there are two types…

THUNDER BAY — With weather conditions improving and fire behaviour slowing, residents of Upsala are returning home following a voluntary evacuation last week. "The weather has cooled. the humidity is up," declared Upsala fire chief Doug Kiezebrink. "Winds are maybe still a bit of a problem." Kiezebrink called the fire — Fort Frances 14, which at one point was burning…

Local authorities in Thunder Bay report that Two Thunder Bay men have been charged with second-degree murder after officers responding to a reported assault found a deceased person in the Cumming Street area late Saturday night. the northwestern Ontario hub Law enforcement Service officers were called to the area at about 11 p.m. on July law enforcement remarked members of…

News from Thunder Bay: Despite wildfire conditions improving in and around the Lakehead region, Ont., on Tuesday, there are many steps residents can still take to reduce their wildfire risk and the likelihood ofnegative impacts to their properties. Dave Tarini, the chief of Thunder Bay Fire Rescue, advised the fire department always expects fires to pop up locally, especially with…

A developing story from Thunder Bay: Provincial animal welfare organizations are coming together to aid pets displaced amid wildfire evacuations across northwestern Ontario. Northern Reach Networkhas received hundreds of messages requesting support in its efforts to help communities in and around Thunder Bay, including remote communities being evacuated. Paul Bishop, a board member with the non-profit, confirmed the network was…

Thunder Bay, Ontario — The Community of Thunder Bay has activated its Critical incident Operations Centre as a precaution while wildfires, evacuations and heavy smoke continue to affect Northwestern Ontario. Municipality spokespersons stressed that the activation does not mean the regional capital is facing an immediate wildfire threat. There is currently no indication that residents of the municipality will need…

A developing story from Thunder Bay: Northwestern Ontario’s wildfire crisis remains the leading story for NetNewsLedger readers on Sunday, July 19, 2026, with 137 active fires, continuing evacuations and widespread smoke affecting communities, transportation and public health. Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in Thunder Bay Saturday, where he met with fire spokespersons and Indigenous people evacuated from threatened and damaged…

Local authorities in Thunder Bay report that A veterinary team from southern Ontario has driven up to Thunder Bay to provide care for cats and dogs displaced by the region’s wildfires. More than a dozen communities, including several First Nations in the northwest, are under evacuation this wildfire season. There are about 185 active wildfires across Ontario, according tothe latest…

News from Thunder Bay: A total of 139 wildfires were burning across northwestern Ontario as of Sunday afternoon, provincial authorities confirmed. This number includes at least eight, covering a total of roughly 3,413 hectares, that were confirmed by the provincial Aviation, Forest Fire and Critical incident Services (AFFES) agency on Saturday evening: On Sunday, the AFFES remarked that across the…

News from Thunder Bay: the regional capital – WEATHER DESK – Thunder Bay begins Saturday under widespread wildfire smoke, sharply reduced visibility and an Orange Air Quality Warning. The temperature is already near 19°C, with a humid afternoon expected as the high reaches 26°C. A chance of showers and thunderstorms could bring temporary neighborhood improvement, but Environment Canada expects very…