Fire in Ontario causes smoke and haze in Cook County

Haze and wood smoke are noticeable in many parts of Cook County today due to a forest fire in Canada.

According to the US Forest Service and the Cook County Sheriff’s Department, there are no forest fires locally.

The source of the smoke is a lightning-caused fire about 200 miles north of Quetico. According to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources the fire, dubbed the Sioux Lookout 35 Fire, is not under control. As of 11 a.m. today more than 74,000 acres or more than 115 square miles have been burned in Canada. Mishkeegogomang, a First Nations community of about 150 people, is being evacuated. The fire, located near Highway 599, is about nine miles from the community.

Suppression efforts on the western flank of the blaze are under way with Ontario Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) fire rangers and aircraft.

As of this morning, ODNR reports at least 14 other fires are burning across the province, including six that were reported recently. So far this season, 272 fires have been reported in the province.

Information about the Sioux Lookout 35 Fire for people traveling in that area is available from 1-888-258-8842.

Photo courtesy of Peter Durand via Flickr.