A remote First Nation on the James Bay coast has been evacuated amid a fast-spreading forest fire.
Fort Albany First Nation declared a state of emergency Wednesday, after a small wildfire that started around noon grew in size, less than two kilometres from the isolated community of about 700 people.
Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says water bombers and helicopters are fighting the 300-hectare fire, noting it rapidly increased in "intensity" and is not under control.
It's one of several fires burning in the northeast - including a nearly 12,000 hectare blaze northeast of Lake Abitibi and a trio of fires north of Massey - though there is some good news locally, as travel and access restrictions imposed near the "Wawa 3" fire east of White River have now been lifted - that fire, located south of Trent Lake and Round Lake, and five kilometres northwest of Duffy Lake, has been held at 6678 hectares in size for nearly two weeks.
Such restrictions remain around the "Chapleau 3" fire - two kilometres south of October Lake and 2.5 kilometres west of Vichaw Lake - as it remains listed as "not under control", though it has not grown above 3916 hectares in ten days, while "Chapleau 6" - located 2.5 kilometres west of Morin Lake and one kilometre east of Bolkow Lake - is still not under control, but has not grown beyond 1229 hectares in size in just as long.
The fire hazard is extreme for much of the north, with some areas of high hazard, and the Restricted Fire Zone suspending fire permits and banning open air burning remains in place for the entire fire region of Ontario.