Forest fire forces Shining Tree, Ont., residents to evacuate
Highway 560 between Highway 144 and Elk Lake continues to be closed in both directions
A forest fire burning out of control has forced the evacuation of about 50 homes in Shining Tree, Ont., north of Sudbury.
On Saturday afternoon, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry advised people to leave their homes immediately and travel east, away from the active fire.
An order is in place that restricts access and travel on roads and Crown land in the area.
Aerial fire suppression aircraft are working on this fire, which is estimated to cover about 1,500 hectares as of Sunday evening.
Shauna Weiss and her husband Rob Weiss, of Sudbury, purchased some hunting and fishing lodges, called the Shining Tree Camp, in March.
"Unfortunate, but I think everything will be okay," said Shauna about the forest fire, which is near her new property. "I'm going to have positive energy about it, and that's all."
She said they are fortunate because their home is in Sudbury, but the property remains "at the hands of nature right now."
Isabelle Chenard, a fire information officer with the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, said conditions for forest fires remain high due to elevated temperatures over the weekend.
Chenard said that although temperatures cooled on Monday, there are forecasts for moderate wind, which "does help to keep the hazard a little bit higher."
Highway 560 between Highway 144 and Elk Lake continues to be closed in both directions.
There are 17 active fires in the northeast region.