Ontario wildfires burn record area as crews extinguish dozens and evacuate 14 communities
The province has recorded its largest wildfire ever this year, with one fire spanning 3,500 square kilometres at its peak. About 1,150 evacuees remain in host communities.
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Ontario is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record by area burned, with the province's largest fire ever reaching 3,500 square kilometres at its peak — roughly double the size of another large fire from recent years.
Mike Harris, Ontario's minister of natural resources, said Tuesday that while the number of fires this season has been relatively normal, the total burned area "way surpass[es]" what has been seen previously. Crews are making progress, with dozens of fires extinguished in the last two weeks and far fewer burning out of control, Harris said, though the province is not yet in the clear.
Fire evacuation orders have affected 14 communities across Ontario. Six have already returned home, while about 1,150 evacuees remain in host communities. Harris urged residents not to wait for official evacuation orders if flames appear nearby — "if fires start near a community, people do not have to wait for a Ministry of Natural Resources evacuation order. They should just leave."
Most of the burning has been concentrated in the province's north.
Manitoba's auditor general called for better cybersecurity at Shared Health — a recommendation that came after a ransomware attack on the body's systems last year. Ontario has not yet faced comparable attacks on its emergency response infrastructure.
By the numbers
What was the size of Ontario's largest wildfire this year?
Ontario's largest wildfire reached 3,500 square kilometres at its peak, making it the province's largest fire ever recorded.
How many evacuees from Ontario wildfires remain displaced?
About 1,150 evacuees remain in host communities across Ontario, though six of the 14 affected communities have already returned home.
How many fires were extinguished in the last two weeks?
Dozens of fires were extinguished in the two weeks before Tuesday, August 11, 2026, according to Ontario's minister of natural resources.
