Crews continue battling dozens of fires in northeastern Ontario
Crews from across the country continued to cut down dozens of raging fires in northeastern Ontario on Sunday, after evacuation orders left some property owners uncertain of whether their homes and businesses would survive the flames.
The largest fire in the area — known as “Parry Sound 33” — prompted mandatory evacuation orders for 50 homes that are only accessible by boat on Saturday, several days after it was discovered. Those who could access their properties by ground were subject to evacuation alerts, meaning they should be prepared to leave at any moment.
James Palmer, whose family has owned the Hartley Bay Marina for 65 years, said he was among those pushed out of the area Saturday, but he hopes to return soon to check up on the property.
“Our business is still standing, but that could change at a moment’s notice,” he said. “It’s extremely stressful because not only is it my home, it’s my place of business.”
He noted that the marina is one of the only access points to the mainland from campgrounds. Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources said the orders and alerts apply to properties between the western and northern borders of French River Provincial Park, east to Highway 69, and as far south as the Key River’s south shore, including
people on both shores of the French and Pickerel rivers and Hartley Bay.
Parry Sound 33 is one of more than 63 fires burning in the region, with 20 of them out of control as of Sunday afternoon — a slight improvement from the previous night.
Firefighters and equipment have poured in from across Canada, the United States and Mexico to help Ontario-based crews.
Five waterbombers were aiding hard-pressed ground crews in their struggle to contain the flames.