Forest fires continue to impact air quality and travel in the northeast.
An air quality alert warning about high levels of air pollution remains in effect today.
As of yesterday evening (June 8), there were 34 active fires in the northeast region, according to Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES). Of those, 17 aren't under control, eight are being held, one is being observed and eight are under control.
There are nine active fires not under control in the area in the Chapleau, Timmins, Cochrane, Kirkland Lake and Hearst districts.
- Chapleau 3 has doubled in size once again to 3,134 hectares. It started 53 kilometres south of Highway 101 and 67 kilometres east of Highway 129. AFFES says values assessment and protection are ongoing. Air attacks have been helping with the suppression efforts.
- Chapleau 6 has doubled to 458 hectares and is located 48 kilometres northwest of Chapleau and 15.7 kilometres west of the southern point of Missinaibi Provincial Park.
- Chapleau 9 is 0.3 hectares. It's 19 kilometres south of Highway 101 and one kilometre west of Turner Lake.
- Cochrane 5 is 11 hectares.
- Cochrane 6 is 1,239 hectares. It is located about 11.6 kilometres west of the northern end of Lake Abitibi and 31.6 kilometres northeast of Iroquois Falls.
- Cochrane 7 has grown to 7,071.9 hectares and is located about 16.8 kilometres northeast of the northeastern end of Lake Abitibi and 11.2 kilometres west of the Quebec border.
- Hearst 5 is 90 hectares and located 36 kilometres south of Highway 11 and just north of Macvicar Creek.
- Kirkland Lake 5 has more than quadrupled in size to 2,100 hectares. It's eight kilometres north of Lady Evelyn Smoothwater and 10 kilometres south of Highway 65.
- Timmins 7 is 120 hectares. It's located between Highway 101 and Highway 144.
Timmins 8 is now out. It was located two kilometres west of the Akonesi Chain of Lakes Complex and 0.8 kilometres south of Brady Lake.
For other active fires, Cochrane 1 is 45 hectares and being observed, Cochrane 2 is 0.4 hectares and under control, Cochrane 3 between Cochrane and Iroquois Falls is under control at 80 hectares,Cochrane 8 east of Cochrane off of Highway 652 is being held at 35 hectares, Cochrane 9 is under control at five hectares, Chapleau 8 is under control at 0.2 hectares and Hearst 4 is under control at 12 hectares.
Travel Restrictions
Hearst-Cochrane-Kapuskasing District Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) District office
Travel is prohibited in these areas unless you have a travel permit:
- Translimit Road eastwards beginning where it intersects with the Northwest Industrial Road
- Translimit Road west of the Ontario-Quebec border
- Northwest Industrial Road north of the Abitibi bridge
A map of the restricted areas is available here.
The travel restrictions put in on June 3 remain in place. It prohibits travel in the following areas:
- Reaume Esker Road beginning where it intersects with Town Dump Road
- Potter Road West of the TC Energy Plant
- Connaught-Evelyn Road North of the Pallet Lake access point
A map of these restricted areas is available here.
People requiring travel permits should contact the district MNRF office at 705-272-7178 or email [email protected].
Sudbury District
Travel is prohibited in these areas:
- Highway 553 (also known as the Massey Tote Rd) south of Cameron Creek
- West Branch Road south of Fleck Creek in Weeks Township
- Highway 810 (also known as the Massey Tote Road) south of Ritchie Falls
- John's Creek Road at Porter Creek
- Fox Lake Road at Centre Creek
- Kitt’s Creek Road at Boon Township Road (Boon Township boundary)
- Highway 553 (also known as the Massey Tote Road) in Olinyk Township, south of Gervais Township
- Pecors Road at the Joubin, Gaiashik Township boundary
The implementation order map for these areas is available here.
June 5 all people in townships of Olinyk, Plourde (south half), Prescott, Redden (west half), Strain, Teasdale, Poncet, Lehman, Lockeyer, Gerow and Gaiashik were evacuated. That order also prohibits the travel and use of the following areas:
- Highway 553 (also known as the Massey Tote Rd) south of Cameron Creek
- Highway 810 (also known as the Massey Tote Rd) north of the 17-mile crossover
- Highway 810 (also known as the Massey Tote Rd) south of Ritchie Falls
- Pecors Rd at the Joubin, Gaiashik Township boundary
A map of the affected area is available here. For any questions, contact Derrick Luetchford at 705-929-4166 or email [email protected].
Chapleau-Wawa MNRF District
Travel is prohibited in these areas:
- 400 south of where Road 400 intersects the White River Forest Unit boundary
- Road 300 south of the intersection of Road 300 and Road 350
- Road 500 west of the intersection of Road 500 and Road 550
- Road 226 west of the intersection of Road 226 and Highway 631
- “Mink Lake East" Road north of intersection of "Mink Lake East" Road and Highway 631
- "Mink Lake Boat Launch" Road north of intersection of "Mink Lake Boat Launch" Road and Highway 63
- Operational Road 631-02 north of intersection of Road 631-02 and Highway 631
- Operational Road 631-01 (aka. Tower Road) north of intersection of Road 631-01 and Highway 631
- Road 100 north of intersection of Road 100 and the Picnic Lake Road
- North Reagan Road north of intersection of North Reagan Road and Road 50
- Road 10 east of intersection of Road 10 and Highway 17
- Road 99 east of intersection of Road 99 and Highway 17
- Operational Road 631-05 east of intersection of operational Road 631-05 and Highway 631
A map of the restricted areas is available here. For a travel permit in these areas, contact the Chapleau-Wawa District Office at 705-856-2396.
The northeast region continues to be a restricted fire zone and no open-air burning is allowed.
