Lightning-caused wildfires prompt evacuations in northeastern Ontario
Authorities say more than 50 homes have been evacuated in northeastern Ontario this weekend due to the threat of raging forest fires.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued Friday for the Key Harbour area and the municipality of Killarney, south of the French River Provincial Park, after a fire more than quadrupled in size to about 19 square kilometres, according to Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
An additional order was issued Saturday for an area from the western and northern borders of French River Provincial Park, east to the Trans-Canada Highway, and as far south as the south shore of the Key River.
The order affected all residents whose homes are accessible only by boat. Those with road access were placed on evacuation alert, meaning they had to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice if conditions were to change.