OPP urging caution to those planning to travel north for the long weekend

Despite a massive forest fire being only a few kilometers from the highway connecting Southern Ontario to the north, the road remains open, but the OPP is urging people to use extreme caution heading into this long weekend.

Heavy smoke is creating poor air quality and reduced visibility, and wind conditions are blowing smoke away from Highway 69, but if that changes the OPP could shut the highway down for safety reasons.

The blaze is the 33rd forest fire in the Parry Sound area this year, and it has forced evacuations in parts of Killarney and prompted an evacuation alert in the area of French River about an hour south of Sudbury.

Highway 69 runs from just north of Parry Sound to Sudbury a distance of about 160 kilometres. The fire is currently less than 5 kilometres away from 69, which makes up part of the Trans Canada Highway.

Premier Doug Ford visited the area last Friday, where as many as 13 buildings have been destroyed by the blaze.

Favorable weather conditions are helping firefighters battle the forest fire that is over 11,000 hectares in size, which is larger than the entire city of St. Catharines, but it is still considered out of control.

Hundreds of re-enforcements have been called in from across the country, the States, and even Mexico to help battle the blaze.

If you are travelling up north this weekend, it’s recommended that you call 5-1-1 to find out if the highway is still open.