Ontario wildfires force evacuations as smoke turns Toronto skies orange

Several communities in northwestern Ontario are evacuating as wildfires devastate homes, camps, and infrastructure, with more communities on standby as the province warns the wildfire situation will worsen.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says recent lightning events have caused high-to-extreme fire hazard levels, with 135 active fires reported as of Wednesday afternoon. Smoke from the fires has drifted south, turning skylines an eerie shade of orange over Toronto and southern regions, and prompting health warnings in New York state.

Canadian National Railway halted freight rail operations in areas hit by fires after a video showed a CN locomotive surrounded by flames near Armstrong, Ontario, around Lake Nipigon.

Many evacuees have fled to Thunder Bay. Tausha Esquega, a member of Gull Bay First Nation, told The Globe and Mail that people arrived without a plan.

Ontario opposition MPPs have accused Premier Doug Ford's government of underfunding the province's emergency forest firefighting service. Patty Hajdu, federal Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, said Ottawa is ready to support the province, but a request for assistance hasn't been made yet.

Health officials advise that anyone noticing persistent shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or worsening respiratory symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.