THUNDER BAY – Update – The Trans-Canada Highway is as of 21:40 EDT now open in both direction.
Cleared #Closure #Shabaqua #Upsala #HWY17 between #HWY11/17 junction and #HWY599 Upsala re-opened. #ONHwys
— 511ONNorthwestern (@511ONNorthwest) May 14, 2020
The fire, Thunder Bay 4, is located approximately seven kilometres north of the Hwy. 11/17 junction at Shabaqua. The 50 hectare fire, which resulted in the closure of both lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway, received aerial fire suppression throughout the afternoon. FireRanger crews have been assigned to this forest fire. At the time of this update the fire was not under control.
Update: #Closure #Shabaqua #Upsala #HWY17 between #HWY11/17 junction and #HWY599 Upsala remains closed in both directions due to forest fire. #ONHwys pic.twitter.com/9d3Kp0jGJh
— 511ONNorthwestern (@511ONNorthwest) May 13, 2020
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has been fighting the fire all day today. However smoke and flame have made travel on the highway unsafe.
NetNewsLedger will update as details come in.
