Friday was another active day for forest fires in the Northeast Region.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says there were eight new fire starts with a total of 65 active fires.

Highway 17 East between Mattawa and Petawawa was closed for several hours overnight because of several fires (Pembroke 5-8) near Bissett Creek causing visibility issues.

The roadway was back open around 3:30 am.

Meantime, in the Parry Sound district a mandatory evacuation of Key Harbour and a small portion of Killarney was recommended because of a fire burning in that area.

Overall, officials say a shift in winds today will challenge fire crews with fire behaviour expected to be very active again.

(Top photo by Joshua Gagne: A CL415 circles above Pembroke 7. The smoke from this fire and from Pembroke 5, 6 and 8 prompted OPP to close Highway 17.)

 

(An aerial view of Pembroke 6 captured by AFFES Air Attack Officer Jacques Coulombe)
Filed under: forest-fires, north-bay-mnrf-district