News from Thunder Bay: A total of 191 active fires were burning across northern Ontario as of Saturday morning, with seven new fires confirmed in the northwestern region Saturday afternoon, provincial authorities confirmed.
Those seven new fires bring the regional tally to 132, according to the provincial Aviation, Forest Fire and Crisis Services (AFFES) agency. AFFES says that overcast conditions on Friday following overnight rainfall helped limit fire growth and behaviour across all active fires. The latest wildfires in the northwestern region, covering an area of roughly 252 hectares, are: An additional two new fires in northeastern Ontario were also confirmed by AFFES on Friday: On Friday morning, the province issued an evacuation order for an area near the Fort Frances 14 fire, which is slightly more than 55,000 hectares in size and was not under control as of Saturday morning.
People in the area of Baril, Bedivere and Windigoostigwan lakes and Lac des Mille Lacs have been told to leave immediately, unless they have a travel permit issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNRF). The Canadian Red Cross indicated it was setting up a response team at the Fort Williams Garden Arena in Thunder Bay to help evacuees. AFFES confirmed incident management teams have been mobilized to the Fort Frances and Thunder Bay sectors to assume responsibility for managing the large-scale incidents in the fegion, specifically Fort Frances 14, Fort Frances 15 and Thunder Bay 36. During a news conference in Thunder Bay on Saturday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford indicated more than 155 fire crews were working on the ground as of Saturday morning, with more than 80 aircraft deployed, as well.
Despite a chance of showers expected across the region on Saturday, the fire hazard remains high through much of northwestern Ontario, with moderate and low hazard in western parts of the region.
"Our focus continues to be sending resources to the areas where fire suppression is most likely to be successful and where they can make the biggest impact, keeping people and communities safe," he stated. Ford added that 40 additional aircraft are on standby for suppression efforts, while warning those affected by the wildfires against returning to their campsites and homes if they've been ordered to evacuate. "We will find you a place, a hotel room, get you food, make sure you're well taken care of," Ford shared. "When the water bombers go over and they see any citizens that aren't theirs, they won't downturn the water. So it's critical you move out of those areas." As of Saturday morning, AFFES indicated Alberta Wildfire firefighters have arrived to assist Ontario crews with ongoing suppression efforts on the ground. Ground crews will continue to receive suppression support from all available resources, including heavy equipment, helicopters and aerial support personnel and aircraft from Alberta and the Yukon. Ford declared he's recently spoken with Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, who offered assistance in the form of additional personnel. The Fort Frances 14 evacuation order is just the latest of several issued in recent days by the province. Other areas ordered to evacuate by the province include: Earlier Saturday morning, Eleanor Olszewski, the federal minister for urgent response management and the region resilience, posted on social media that she'd approved a request to evacuate residents of Eabametoong First Nation. Olszewski confirmed the evacuation of the public of more the 600 was slated to begin Sunday morning. Several other communities and areas have also been told about potential evacuations: Yellow air quality warnings, meanwhile, are in effect for Manitouwadge, Hornepayne, Geraldton, and Longlac, while Dryden, Ignace, Sioux Lookout have also improved from orange to yellow. Despite a chance of showers expected across the region on Saturday, the fire hazard remains high through much of northwestern Ontario, with moderate and low hazard in western parts of the region. A restricted fire zone has been implemented for much of the region, as well, which prohibits any open-air burning, including campfires. Thunder Bay residents come together to support wildfire evacuees with toy drive, donation drop-offs Many municipalities and communities in the region have also implemented their own fire bans, including Thunder Bay, Oliver Paipoonge, Shuniah, Neebing, Lappe, Kenora, Dryden, Red Lake, and Sioux Lookout. The air quality issues have led to a number of services, programs and events being suspended, cancelled, or shut down. All outdoor pools, beaches and splash pads run by the Community of Thunder Bay have been closed, as have Chapples and Strathcona golf courses, the Centennial Botanical Conservatory, all washroom facilities in public parks, and outdoor marina services. Parks and playfields are open, but not staffed, and programs and activities are being moved indoors where possible. Residential garbage collection is continuing — the Lakehead confirmed there may be delays — but business and multi-residential garbage collection has been suspended. The city Border Cats have postponed Friday's doubleheader against the Wausau Woodchucks due to air quality and forecasted rain. 'Good news and bad news:' What Thunder Bay, Ont., can expect related to air quality over next 36 hours Fort William Historical Park has also cancelled Celtic Day, which was scheduled to take place Sunday. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit presented this week it was altering its services levels due to air quality, with routine client-facing services suspended on Friday. The health unit's office on Balmoral Street will also be closed to the public on Friday, but the health unit indicated it will remain open for staff and essential services. Thunder Bay's annual Festival of India has also been postponed. It will now take place on Aug. CBC has also confirmed that Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay is being used as an additional evacuation site. Liam Baker is a journalist for CBC Ottawa. He also reports and produces stories for CBC Windsor, and on Inuit Nunangat for CBC Nunavut. Previously, he's reported for CBC Yukon, CBC Thunder Bay, and CBC Toronto's Enterprise unit. You can reach him at liam.baker@cbc.ca It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered onCBC Gem..
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📍 Source: CBC News Thunder Bay · By: CBC News Staff · 🗓️ July 19, 2026 · 🏠 ThunderBay.Online
