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Water bombers, firefighters battle wildfire in Kawartha Lakes, Ont.

The city of Kawartha Lakes in Ontario says water bombers and firefighters have been battling what is described as a significant forest fire in the Burnt River area since Friday.
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Ontario's provincial flag flies in Ottawa, Monday, July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

The city of Kawartha Lakes in Ontario says water bombers and firefighters have been battling what is described as a significant forest fire in the Burnt River area since Friday.

Officials say about 27 hectares or a little more than one-quarter of a square kilometre of forest was burning in the community northeast of Toronto as of Sunday.

They say city firefighters, the Trent Lakes Fire Service and multiple Ministry of Natural Resources crews from the Haliburton detachment are battling the blaze.

Officials say additional resources from North Bay crews were being deployed to assist and aerial water bombers were also targeting the most active fire zones on Sunday.

The city says the fire is burning in a heavily wooded area where ice storm damage left hazardous terrain, making hose deployment challenging.

No evacuations have been ordered but the city is urging residents and visitors to avoid the fire area, and closed off County Road 49 between County Road 121 and Bury's Green Road.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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