The northwestern Ontario community is abuzz with news that moved sharply against the national trend in 2025, recording an 18 per cent expansion in its police-reported crime rate while Canada’s overall rate declined. For many in the urban centre that does not come as a surprise. Crime is on the upswing, and often to many people the Thunder Bay Authorities…
Local authorities in Thunder Bay report that 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," advised Upsala fire chief Doug Kiezebrink. "Winds are maybe still a bit of a problem." Kiezebrink called the fire — Fort Frances 14, which at…
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 the Lakehead region Saturday, where he met with fire administration and Indigenous people evacuated from threatened and damaged communities. Ford…
Thunder Bay, Ontario — 131 active wildfires are burning in northwestern Ontario, with 30 listed as not under control, according to the latest update from Ontario Forest Fires. The largest wildfire in the region, known as Thunder Bay 36, also remains out of control and spans more than 315,000 hectares. The Ministry of Natural Resources indicated the Thunder Bay–Ignace Districthas…
Thunder Bay, Ontario — Yolanda Sakanee says she wants to go home, but there's too much uncertainty in her First Nation, which declared a state of critical incident last week due to northwestern Ontario’s wildfires. Sakanee is one of more than 130 evacuees from Neskantaga First Nation, a remote Ojibway the public about 440 kilometres northeast of the northwestern Ontario…
News from Thunder Bay: First Nation chiefs from northwestern Ontario are calling for a public inquiry into the provincial government’s response to the region's wildfires, which have resulted in more than a dozen evacuations. At a media conference hosted by Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) at the Superior Inn Hotel and Conference Centre in Thunder Bay on Tuesday, Gull Bay First…
The northwestern Ontario community is abuzz with news that 131 active wildfires are burning in northwestern Ontario, with 30 listed as not under control, according to the latest update from Ontario Forest Fires. The largest wildfire in the region, known as Thunder Bay 36, also remains out of control and spans more than 315,000 hectares. The Ministry of Natural Resources…
THUNDER BAY — Northwestern Ontario’s wildfire urgent response remains the leading regional story Thursday as thousands of evacuees remain away from home and governments prepare for continued fire activity. Internationally, attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea are pushing crude prices toward US$100 a barrel. Nationally, Canada faces prolonged uncertainty over continental trade, while new crime data and an…
Residents of Thunder Bay are learning that Despite wildfire conditions improving in and around Thunder Bay, Ont., on Tuesday, there are many steps residents can still take to reduce their wildfire risk and the likelihood of negative impacts to their properties. Mark Shruiff, the fire chief for Neebing Crisis Services (NES), stated the number one cause of fire spread and…
Residents of Thunder Bay are learning that Dilico Anishinabek Family Care held its eighth annual powwow on Thursday in Fort William First Nation, which neighbours Thunder Bay. The event helped bring people together as hundreds are displaced during Ontario's wildfire season. Zander Lapensee says powwows have changed his life — and amid a difficult wildfire season in northwestern Ontario, he…