A forest fire has put people around the northeastern Ontario community of Temagami on evacuation alert, with residents being told to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. The fire that was sparked by a lightning strike Sunday southwest of the town has already seen the forced evacuation of 20 homes in Temagami Shores, about 100 kilometres north of North Bay. An evacuation of nearby provincial parks, including of Finlayson Point and Marten River, has also occurred. Dan O'Mara, acting mayor of Temagami, said the town has declared a state of emergency and has opened the arena in Temagami North for anyone who needs a place to stay. People don't know what to expect, he said Monday morning. "I think one of the issues last night was there was a fair amount of kind of a white, smoky haze in the community," he said. "And some of the seniors, we were concerned about. And we had people out just checking in and making sure that everybody was fine." Kim Krech says she's trying to stay positive and hopes the winds don't change direction anytime soon. (Mathieu Gregoire/Radio-Canada) Kim Krech, co-owner of Temagami Marine on Inlet Bay, said a fire broke out Sunday about two kilometres from the business. "Right now we are in an evacuation. We are not supposed to be here but I have to look out for my livelihood." She said the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry set up sprinklers on all their buildings and fire crews from Temagami and Cobalt were wetting the property around it. "I'm very scared by I'm trying to stay calm," says Krech. "Not just our livelihood but those who work for us. It is a big part of Temagami." Daniel Thompson, who owns Gramp's Place, a bait and tackle shop along Highway 11 south of Temagami, said "most people booted it for home yesterday." "Since they were camping in the area, a lot of people left." Marten River and Finlayson Point provincial parks were both evacuated Sunday. 'So smoky in front of my house' Smoke from the fire is visible at Mowatt Landing Cottages, north of Temagami. Owner Trevor Graydon has offered his cottages to people leaving from any active fires in the area. "It is so smoky in front of my house, and I'm 30 kilometres from the fire," he said. ​The OPP and nearby local fire departments have been working with the ministry to beat back the fire. "The situation with the fire itself looked good [Sunday] night," said O'Mara. "The concern this morning is the wind and to try and maintain that. I guess there is a concern that depending on which way the wind's blowing [it] could add other issues this morning." Residents of Temagami could be asked to leave if conditions worsen, the OPP said. The ministry says the fire, started by a lightning strike, is now approximately 25 hectares in size. Highway 11 is open, but provincial police are asking people to avoid the area because of smoke. They say the highway could close at any point if visibility becomes an issue.<doc-sep>FIRE SEASON | Evacuation Alerts Temagami officials hope to start lifting fire evacuations Find Your Forecast Search for a location CBC News Monday, July 2, 2018, 3:13 PM - It looks like the worst has been avoided in Temagami, Ont., but the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says it is still working to put out the fire that forced the evacuation of about 20 homes. On Sunday, a forest fire was started by a lightning strike, southwest of the town, which is located about 100 km north of North Bay, Ont. SEE ALSO: Fast-moving fire burns 34 cars at Niagara Lavender Festival An evacuation was also done of two provincial parks, including Finlayson Point and Marten River. The town's emergency co-ordinator Brian Koski says the measures are largely precautionary. "It's a good thing in that you don't see all the bombers heading to it, so it's being done by land attack with assistance by land attack," he said. "Hopefully soon, we'll be able to lift some of the evacuations." But many in Temagami are shaken by the fire. Ashley Legacy and Omar Contreras were enjoying time at their family cottage with their two young children. They realized something was wrong when they turned around to spot water bombers skimming their lake. "The kids they were crying," Contreras said. "I don't know, it was very scary." Image courtesy of Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services. AVOID THE AREA Meanwhile, the province has issued a forest fire "Emergency Area Order" for that area. The declaration allows emergency crews to impose road closures and other emergency measures on short notice as they battle changing fire conditions in the region. "There are lots of active fires due to numerous lightning strikes," Shayne McCool with the ministry said. "We are advising people to avoid the area — even just for smoke conditions." He also advises people looking to canoe and camp in the area to avoid doing so for now. "This week will see few days with any rain, so conditions could change quickly," he said. The ministry asks residents in the area to tie boats and float planes as close as possible to allow space for water bombers. It adds that new lightning fires have already been confirmed as of Tuesday morning, with several new starts expected in northeastern Ontario as a result of recent thunderstorms. WATCH BELOW: FAST MOVING GRASS FIRE BURNS 34 VEHICLES AT NIAGARA LAVENDER FESTIVAL, DAMAGE OVER $1 MILLION For guidelines on safe outdoor fire management ontario.ca/fireprevention<doc-sep>Residents of about 20 homes near Temagami, Ont., are being forced to flee due to a nearby forest fire, provincial police say. #MNR Water Bombers working on an active fire south of #Temagami today. Some areas were evacuated for #PublicSafety. Please stay clear and consider alternate routes through the area. ^sh pic.twitter.com/CJuBz8EvqW —@OPP_NER The OPP say members of its Temiskaming detachment assisted the province's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in implementing the mandatory evacuation order. It affects residents living between Finlayson Point Provincial Park Road and Jessie Lake. Police say there is a "dangerously close, active forest fire" in the area, and those affected have been asked to travel north on Highway 11, away from the flames. Other residents in the area have been placed on alert, meaning they could be asked to leave if conditions worsen. Residents of the Town of Temagami, about 90 km northwest of North Bay, are on a voluntary evacuation notice.<doc-sep>Share this Story: Parts of Ontario on evacuation notice as wildfires spread Parts of Ontario on evacuation notice as wildfires spread Article content Ontario has put a large swath of homes on evacuation notice, emptied two provincial parks and called for help from other provinces as forest fires rage near the Quebec border. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry placed residents near Temagami, Ont., on notice Monday morning after 20 homes were evacuated Sunday as a fire approached the town along with other fires that have begun in the area. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Parts of Ontario on evacuation notice as wildfires spread Back to video “Fire North Bay 69,” as it’s known, is threatening the town, said ministry spokeswoman Jolanta Kowalski. As of Monday morning, there are 70 forest fires in the province’s northeast region with 33 of them not yet under control, she said. #MNR Water Bombers working on an active fire south of #Temagami today. Some areas were evacuated for #PublicSafety. Please stay clear and consider alternate routes through the area. ^sh pic.twitter.com/CJuBz8EvqW — OPP North East (@OPP_NER) July 9, 2018 Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “There’s high temperatures, dry conditions and a lot of thunderstorms,” Kowalski said, making ideal conditions for the start and spread of fires. “The risk of wildland fires across most of northern Ontario is high and it’s especially challenging in the northeast right now because there are so many fires.” Ontario Parks also evacuated two provincial parks, Finlayson Point and Marten River, “due to the significant risk from nearby forest fire activity.” Neary 450 campers have gotten out safely, an Ontario Parks spokeswoman said. The parks will remain closed for the time being. Jolanta said the ministry will be getting reinforcements from other provinces to join the 400 firefighters currently working the northeast quadrant of the province. EVACUATION NEAR TEMAGAMI due to fire. #OPP from #Temagami and #TemiskamingShores ASSISTING MNRF. MNRF mandatory evacuation affecting area. #Hwy11 remains open however fire conditions may cause closures. If travelling consider delaying or using alternate routes. ^cb pic.twitter.com/ZosTce9BM3 — OPP North East (@OPP_NER) July 8, 2018 Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Numerous water bombers are operating during daylight hours in an effort to stop or control the spread of the fires, she said. It has been a bad year for forest fires in Ontario with 504 recorded to date compared to 143 this time last year, according to the ministry’s data. The area burned is up significantly as well, with 61,000 hectares damaged due to fire compared to 42,000 hectares last year, Kowalski said. In Temagami, tensions are high, said Brian Koski, a local councillor and the head of the municipality’s emergency management committee. “It’s very close to the town,” Koski said. pic.twitter.com/MCklbrdGe7 — OPP North East (@OPP_NER) July 9, 2018 Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Smoke blanketed the area on Sunday, which led to one resident suffering an asthma attack, Koski said, but no one else has been injured. There are several larger fires to the south of the town, he said. And small blazes are popping up and spreading quickly. Koski spent part of Sunday driving around and helping residents clear out when he stopped by Karol Lake. “There was not even a puff of smoke,” he said. “By 2 p.m. there was a puff of smoke. And by 4 p.m. it was a raging fire.” Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Toronto Sun Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Toronto SUN, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of The Toronto Sun Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending<doc-sep>
Temagami forest fire has residents on evacuation notice as Ontario asks for nationwide help Twenty homes were evacuated Sunday with the fire 'dangerously close' to the town. More fires have now started Temagami forest fire has residents on evacuation notice as Ontario asks for nationwide help Try refreshing your browser, or We apologize, but this video has failed to load. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry placed residents near Temagami, Ont., on notice Monday morning after 20 homes were evacuated Sunday with the fire approaching the town along with other fires that have begun in the area. Ontario has put a large swath of homes on evacuation notice and has called for help from other provinces as forest fires rage near the Quebec border. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content #MNR Water Bombers working on an active fire south of #Temagami today. Some areas were evacuated for #PublicSafety. Please stay clear and consider alternate routes through the area. ^sh pic.twitter.com/CJuBz8EvqW — OPP North East (@OPP_NER) July 9, 2018 The ministry says hot, dry conditions with occasional thunderstorms has made ideal conditions for the start and spread of the fires. The OPP says members of its Temiskaming Detachment assisted the province’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in implementing the mandatory evacuation order. Photo by Courtesy Forest Fire Info / Map Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry The ministry has an interactive map where you can see the severity of new fires and ongoing fires as well as their location. Police say the fire is a “dangerously close, active forest fire,” and those affected have been asked to travel north on Highway 11, away from the flames.