Killarney forest fire continues to spread

All road access properties in the areas of Key Harbour and municipality of Killarney are now under a 12 hour notice of evacuation order

Scott Flamand of Wikwemikong shared these photos of the huge Parry Sound 33 fire in the Key River/French River area on social media last night. He told Sudbury.com he was taking an Air Canada flight from Toronto to Sudbury, and the plane passed over the fire at around midnight. The crew turned the cabin lights off so passengers could get good photos. This is the view of the fire from 16,000 feet. (Supplied/Scott Flamand)

NEWS RELEASE
MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND FORESTRY
*************************
HENVEY INLET - On July 20, 2018 at approximately 11 a.m., the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) recommended that the community of Key Harbour impose a mandatory evacuation of its residents (on the south side of the Key River); and recommended that the municipality of Killarney impose a mandatory evacuation for its residents (on the north side of the Key River - south of French River Provincial Park), members of the West Parry Sound Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) began assisting with the evacuation.

On July 21, 2018 - OPP also assisted with further evacuations after the MNRF's Parry Sound District recommended that the communities, municipalities and townships within the area below impose a mandatory evacuation of their residents with boat access only:

All areas ranging from the western and northern borders of French River Provincial Park, east to Highway 69, and as far south as the south shore of the Key River; including all residents and members of the public on both the north and south shores of the French River, and the Pickerel River, as well as Hartley Bay.

On July 22, 2018 - MNRF updates indicate that the fire has now spread to approximately 5,000 hectares and is not yet under control. All road access properties in these areas are now under a 12-hour notice of evacuation order. A significant amount of smoke continues along Highway 69 south of Grundy Lake Provincial Park.

OPP has assisted with the evacuation of the Village of Henvey Inlet First Nation and community members have been evacuated to either Sudbury or Parry Sound.

*If planning travel, avoid Highway 69 in the Key River and Henvey Inlet area.

For any information regarding active forest fires in the region please contact the Aviation Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) at (705) 564-6165.

The top priority for the OPP and other agencies involved is to ensure public safety

Forest fires are unpredictable and their size and movement can be affected by a number of factors in a short period of time.

*************************