As the Highway 11 corridor enters its fourth week under a fire ban, forest fires continue to rage on in Northeastern Ontario.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, there are currently 44 active forest fires burning in the northeast region, with 18 currently not under control.
According to the MNRF’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services, four new fires were confirmed, including two within the Cochrane District.
Cochrane 35 is seven hectares long and located about 93 kilometres northeast of the Town of Cochrane, and Cochrane 36 is 40 hectares long and located about 200 kilometres south of Fort Severn.
Two fires reported as of a couple weeks ago outside of Hearst in Hearst 12 and 13 are still ongoing as well.
Hearst 13 sits 927 hectares long, is under control and sits roughly 35 kilometres north of Highway 11, while Hearst 12 is not under control, stands 487 hectares long and sits northeast of the Mattagami River.
Currently, a total of 556 firefighters and support staff from the United States, Mexico and across Canada have made their way into Ontario to assist with the situation.
