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Fort Frances 14: Evacuation Orders

An expanded Evacuation Alert has been issued for areas within the Thunder Bay-Ignace District near the active wildland fire, Fort Frances 14. This is not an Evacuation Order. Residents in the newly identified alert areas are strongly encouraged to prepare for a possible evacuation and be ready to leave on short notice if conditions change.

Please be advised that all areas included in the prior Evacuation Order remain under those orders and evacuation is still required

This includes the following townships:

Ames, Begin, Blackwell, Colliver, Conacher, Duckworth, Fallis, Gibbard, Goldie, Goodfellow, GTP Block 2, GTP Block 3, GTR Block 4, Hagey, Haines, Horne, Inwood, Joynt, Lamport, Langworthy, Laurie, Michener, Moss, Robson, Savanne, Soper, Stedman, Upsala, and Wardrope

And all areas accessed by:

  • Athelstane Road
  • Bedivere Road
  • Boot Bay Road
  • Brule Road
  • Burchell Road
  • Chief Peter Lake Road
  • Connection Road
  • Direct Road
  • Dog River Road
  • Drift Lake Road
  • Fortes Lake Road
  • Gold Creek Road
  • Graham Road
  • Haner Road
  • Heart Lake Road
  • Hoof Lake Road
  • Lac Des Mille Lac Road
  • Lily Lake Road
  • Mine Road
  • NeZaadiikaang Rd
  • Numac Road
  • Rounde Lake Road
  • Sapawe Road
  • Seine River Road
  • Shabaqua Road
  • Shelby Lake Road
  • Sideen Rd
  • Sideen Road
  • Swamp Road
  • Township Road
  • Wawiag North Road
  • Wawiag Road
  • West Nelson Lake Road

All areas located on the following lakes:

  • Shebandowan Lakes
  • Kashabowie Lake
  • Burchell Lake
  • Lac Des Milles Lacs
  • Rudge Lake
  • Brule Lake
  • Baril Lake
  • Lang lake
  • Huronian Lake
  • Peterkin Lake
  • Athelstane
  • Little Athelstane Lake
  • Bundy Lake
  • Worthy Lake
  • Milton Lake
  • Moss Lake
  • Rainbow Lake

Please plan ahead and stay connected:

  • Make sure you are aware of the current fire situation
  • Prepare an emergency bag with your essentials (medicine, passports, legal documents etc.)
  • Monitor official channels for updates at ontario.ca/fireupdates
  • Be ready to quickly leave if instructed
  • Respect evacuation orders, road closures and public officials’ direction
  • Give crews and aircraft ample space to work

For more information on this evacuation alert, please call 807-475-1471

Jul 17, 2026 at 07:39

An evacuation order has been issued by Thunder Bay – Ignace District due to the evolving situation and increased fire behaviour of multiple wildland fires including Fort Frances 14.

People in the area near the fires are directed to evacuate the area immediately.

Evacuation Order – Fort Frances 14

  • This Order is in effect as of July 17, 2026 at 7:00  a.m. Eastern Daylight Time until such time as the order is revoked.
  • All persons must immediately evacuate the area indicated on the attached map unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
  • All persons are prohibited from entering the area indicated on the attached map unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

MNR Update of Thursday, July 17, 2026

Fort Frances 14 (FOR014) and Fort Frances 15 (FOR015)

Lac Des Mille Lacs/Upsala area (Wildland Fire Fort Frances 14) 

  • Presently the FOR 014 fire is sized at 55,106 hectares and is not under control.
  • The northern perimeter of FOR 014 is estimated to be approximately 5 kilometres southwest of the Trans-Canada Hwy. at its closest point.
  • The southern perimeter of FOR 14 extends as far south as Fork Lake, approximately 6 kilometres north of Hwy. 11.
  • Both fires exhibited significantly less growth overnight than in previous days. Cloud cover supporting higher relative humidity and lower wind speeds have temporarily reduced fire behaviour, though fire hazard conditions remain high in the area.
  • Poor visibility, due to smoke is limiting flight operations in the fire area.
Brenda
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