Wildfires Continue To Burn in Ontario, Canada, Sending Smoke to U.S. Cities

Out-of-control wildfires in Ontario continued to force evacuations and affect major cities in Canada and the United States on Saturday as the province’s leader made his first visit near the devastated area.

Speaking from a parking lot in Thunder Bay on Saturday, Premier Doug Ford said that 191 wildfires — seven more than Friday — were burning northwest of the city and that 73 were raging out of control.

Ten communities have been evacuated, and 300 people have been rescued from campsites in 40 operations, Mr. Ford added. Roughly 1.7 million acres have burned in Ontario, data from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center shows.

In a short address, Mr. Ford said it was critical that people in the area did not return to their campsites or homes, especially because water bombers did not drop fire suppression loads when they saw people in the bush from overhead. He said there were 155 fire crews at work and 80 water bombers and helicopters flying, with 40 additional aircraft ready to deploy.

Mr. Ford has faced harsh criticism by his political opponents for budgeting 150 million Canadian dollars, or $107 million, for the current wildfire season after spending 271 million Canadian dollars, or $193 million, last year.

“It’s not time to politicize these emergencies,” Mr. Ford said. “It’s absolutely disgusting in my opinion that they want to politicize and play games when people’s lives are on the line,” he added, vowing there would be “no limit to spending.”

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.

Want all of The Times? Subscribe.