Ontario Orders Evacuations for 5 Communities as 53 of 160 Wildfires Burn Uncontrolled
Updated
Updated · Global News · Jul 15
Ontario Orders Evacuations for 5 Communities as 53 of 160 Wildfires Burn Uncontrolled
3 articles · Updated · Global News · Jul 15
Summary
Five northwestern Ontario communities — including Armstrong and several First Nations — were placed under mandatory evacuation orders as nearby wildfires spread and parts of local highways closed.
Ontario said it is battling 160 active wildland fires provincewide, including 128 in the northwest; 53 are not under control, driving orders for residents to head south to Thunder Bay.
Collins First Nation has been destroyed by fire, according to MPP Sol Mamakwa, while Ignace, Crystal Lake and the Highway 633 area were told to prepare for possible evacuations.
Wabakimi Provincial Park will stay closed until July 20, and severe heat warnings across much of northern Ontario — with humidex values near 40 C — are worsening fire conditions.
With climate change making megafires the new norm, is Canada's current firefighting strategy becoming obsolete?
Wildfire smoke costs Canada $19 billion annually. What is the plan for the escalating public health crisis?
Experts know how to make forests more fire-resilient. Why is implementation lagging so far behind?
Northwestern Ontario Wildfires 2026: Crisis Response, Human Impact, and the Urgent Need for Climate Adaptation
Overview
As of July 15, 2026, uncontrolled wildfires in Northwestern Ontario have caused major disruption, forcing evacuations in several communities and threatening critical infrastructure. A fire east of Sandstone Lake, southwest of Thunder Bay, has drawn immediate action from the Ministry of Natural Resources, which deployed waterbombers to contain the blaze. Although the fire did not spread significantly overnight, residents remain on alert for possible evacuation if conditions worsen. These events highlight the urgent and ongoing efforts by emergency services to protect people and property as the wildfire crisis continues to evolve.