3 active wildfires burning in Kawartha Lakes as crews battle dry conditions
Firefighting efforts are ongoing in Kawartha Lakes as crews respond to three active wildfires amid extremely dry conditions across the region.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), the largest fire, OFR 1, continues to burn near the Burnt River area. It has consumed approximately 33.5 hectares of forest.
“It’s a 33.5-hectare fire located approximately 200 meters west of Prospect Road and one kilometre north of Eldon Station Road,” said Evan Lazat, fire information officer with Aviation Forest Fire Management Services in a press conference.
“The fire is not under control,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Haliburton 18 fire has now burned through 27 hectares of forest.
“Suppression efforts to secure the fire perimeter have been secured,”Lazat said.
Fire crews are using shorelines, bodies of waters and man-made perimeters to control the rapid spread.
The third fire, the Kirkfield fire, is now five hectares and began on Aug. 11. Kirkland is being fought with three Fire Ranger crews, air attack resources, and five Kawartha Lakes fire stations.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
Emergency officials are asking the public to stay away from all active fire zones to allow emergency crews to move safely and efficiently through the area.
Mayor Doug Elmslie emphasized that even approaching the fire zone would not be useful or safe.
“My understanding is even if you go up there, the fire is so deeply embedded in the forest that you wouldn’t be able to see anything or get any good photo shots because there’s nothing to see,” Elmslie said.
“You can’t even see smoke because the overhanging trees are keeping it more towards the ground.”
Elmslie added that staying clear of the area is critical.
“Residents and visitors are urged to avoid the two fire areas to allow crews to safely continue their work and move about with ease and as rapidly as possible,” he said.
“There is a total fire ban in effect across the city of Kawartha Lakes and we will be policing that.”
Road closures remain in place as crews continue to fight the fires. County Road 49 is closed between County Road 121 and Bury’s Green. Prospect Road is also closed between 1304 Prospect Road and 1375 Prospect Road.
There are no evacuation orders in place at this time, but residents are being asked to remain alert. Anyone who sees smoke is asked to report it immediately.
“If you see smoke, report it immediately to Kawartha Lake’s fire rescue,” Elmslie said.
He noted that wind is playing a role in how quickly the fires are spreading as it is a grass fire.
With firefighting resources stretched thin and four significant fires already reported in the region over the past week, officials say they will take a zero-tolerance approach to any reports of open burning.
Officials are also using the opportunity to remind residents to prepare for emergencies by having a household plan and a 72-hour emergency kit.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Spirits maker Diageo will cease operations at its bottling facility in Amherstburg, Ont., early next year, as it shifts some bottling volume to the U.S., the company announced on Thursday.
The facility, which bottles Crown Royal products, will close in February in a move aimed at improving its North American supply chain.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
About 200 jobs will be affected.
“This was a difficult decision, but one that is crucial to improving the efficiency and resiliency of our supply chain network,” Marsha McIntosh, Diageo’s president of North America supply, said in a statement.
Diageo said it will engage with the community and find ways to support its employees through the transition, and work alongside Unifor to assist unionized workers.
The company said it will still maintain a “significant” footprint in Canada — including its headquarters and warehouse operations in the Greater Toronto Area, and bottling and distillation facilities in Manitoba and Quebec.
McIntosh added the company’s Crown Royal products will continue to be mashed, distilled and aged at its Canadian facilities.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
Toronto police say a 33-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly striking two men with his car Wednesday evening.
Officers say they responded to reports of a collision in the area of Don Mills Road and Gateway Boulevard in the city’s North York neighbourhood just before 10:30 p.m.
Get daily National news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
Police say two men got into an argument, leading to one man getting into his car and hitting the other man with it.
They say the man then put his car into reverse, striking a second man.
A man in his 50s was transported to hospital with serious injuries and the second man, in his 20s, had minor injuries.
Police say the suspect from Markham, Ont., faces several other charges as well, including two counts of assault with a weapon, uttering threats and dangerous driving.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
A court document shows a Lindsay, Ont., man facing charges for allegedly breaking into an apartment was carrying a crossbow when he was confronted by a tenant.
The resident, Jeremy David McDonald, is also facing assault charges in the incident on Aug. 18 — a fact that has generated widespread interest in the case.
Police information filed in court alleges that Michael Kyle Breen damaged a window and screen at McDonald’s home and carried a crossbow.
The court document says the 41-year-old Breen is charged with break and enter, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, mischief under $5,000 and failing to comply with a probation order.
Get daily National news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
Police have said that Breen, who is scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing next week, was already wanted for unrelated offences.
McDonald, the 44-year-old resident, was charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon after he allegedly “did endanger the life” of Breen.
Premier Doug Ford blasted the decision to charge the apartment resident, saying last week that it shows “something is broken.”
Kawartha Lakes Police Chief Kirk Robertson wrote in a statement Wednesday that he recognizes the incident has generated significant public interest and “emotional” responses, but called some of the reaction “unjust and inaccurate.”
Robertson wrote that individuals have the right to defend themselves and their property, but the law requires that any defensive action be proportionate to the threat faced.
“This means that while homeowners do have the right to protect themselves and their property, the use of force must be reasonable given the circumstances,” he wrote.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
-
Uncategorized3 months agoShop Proud, Eat Proud, Be Proud — Ottawa Canada Day Market This June 28th
-
3 months agoCanada’s world junior trial saw juries tossed, intense testimony. Here’s a recap
-
2 months agoRing of Fire road to bring prosperity to First Nation, problems for caribou: report
-
2 months agoMeasles circulating in northeastern B.C. community, health officials warn
-
3 months agoAnishinabek Nation chief says he briefed Ontario police on protests against Bill 5
-
2 months agoFormer major leaguer, Jays doctor Ron Taylor dies
-
2 months agoJagmeet Singh apologizes for attending Kendrick Lamar concert after Drake calls him out
-
2 months agoDreaming of a lakeside cottage but can’t afford it? Co-ownership could open that door