Timmins forest fire may take all summer to put out

It could take months to stamp out the massive forest fire that threatened Timmins last month.

The fire is listed as 'being held', which means it is not expected to spread.

But fire crews are still working on the ground and from the air to put the fire out for good, said Laura Elchyschn, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Natural Resources.

"This is not a fire that they can walk away from," she said. "Within the northeast we haven't had a fire of this size in a very long time. So they will be making sure that it is fully out before it is declared out. And if that requires having crews on the fire for the entire season, then that is what it will take."

About six camps north of Gogama were lost to the fire. Elchyschn said MNR officials are now escorting the owners of those camps in to see what is left, but access to the area is still restricted.