Forest fires in northwestern Ontario: What to know

Forest fires in northwestern Ontario: What to know

Fires have led to evacuations, hwy closures, air quality warnings, and other impacts on the region

As of Wednesday night, there were 136 active wildfires in the northwest.

The fires have caused evacuations, highway and road closures, air quality warnings, event cancellations, and other issues for the communities and people in the region.

Here's a list of some of the things to know as the situation unfolds.

The following communities have been evacuated because of fire activity:

All areas on the following lakes have also been evacuated:

A number of other communities and areas have been notified about potential evacuations, including:

The Township of Gillies has declared a state of emergency due to fires within a kilometre of its border.

According to the province's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES), eight new wildfires were discovered in the northwest as of Wednesday evening.

AFFES said that Dryden 13 and several fires in the Thunder Bay region have merged with Thunder Bay 36, a large fire in Wabakimi.

Orange air quality warnings are in effect for the following areas:

Yellow air quality warnings, meanwhile, are in effect for:

The City of Thunder Bay has temporarily closed all outdoor pools, beaches and splash pads, the Chapples and Strathcona golf courses, and all outdoor marina services.

Parks and playfields remain open, but will not be staffed while these measures are in place, and whenever possible, staff are moving programs and activities indoors.

Residential curbside garbage collection will continue, but the city said there may be delays.

Business and multi-residential garbage collection has been temporarily suspended.

Essential city services, like transit emergency services, and critical public works operations will continue without interruption.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources said on Wednesday that several hundred wildland firefighters are working in northwestern Ontario.

They're supported by nearly 50 aircraft, including waterbombers and helicopters.

The federal government has also deployed three firefighting helicopters to the region.