Ontario wildfire season eases as most fires come under control

Ontario Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris Jr. said the province's wildfire season is "getting back to normal" after weeks of evacuations and heavy smoke. Over the past two weeks firefighters have extinguished 80 fires, leaving 159 still burning. Of those, 30 are not under control (down from 53), seven are being held, seven are under control, and 115 are being observed without active suppression. The province's largest fire, Thunder Bay 36, remains out of control but has shown minimal growth and now covers more than 3,000 sq km in north‑western Ontario. Conditions are improving, though smoke continues to affect parts of the province and has raised concerns across the United States, while First Nations have called for a public inquiry.

The fire outlook is expected to remain stable as weather improves, and authorities are focusing on protecting communities and managing the remaining active blazes.