Forest fires in northwestern Ontario have devastated several communities, forcing widespread evacuations and destroying homes and buildings in one First Nation as harrowing wildfire videos and images emerge on social media.

The fires have prompted evacuation orders for several communities, including Armstrong, Lac La Croix First Nation, Collins First Nation, Whitesand First Nation, Gull Bay First Nation and Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation.

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige said a fast-moving wildfire has advanced toward Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, also known as Collins First Nation. The fire has caused extensive damage and destruction to homes and buildings, Debassige said in a statement.

She said community members were forced to flee without the support of emergency services but all have been accounted for based on the information available as of Wednesday morning.

“The Anishinabek Nation will be dedicating resources to support Namaygoosisagagun First Nation through this devastating natural disaster in whatever areas possible, including boots-on-the-ground, accommodation co-ordination, and liaising with government,” she said.

“It is in these moments of crisis that we need to come together to support one another.”

Collins First Nation Chief Helen Paavola has said that some people fled on boats as trees next to their homes caught fire. The community has declared a state of emergency and it’s seeking support from both the provincial and federal governments.

“Our primary focus is to take care of our community members as many of our people ran out of their houses with only the clothes on their back,” Paavola said.

The community is located about 210 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, and it’s not accessible by road.

In the town of Armstrong, west of Collins First Nation, a CN Rail crew had to be evacuated after their train was surrounded by fire.

A video taken from inside the locomotive and shared widely on various social media platforms shows orange-red flames engulfing trees on both sides of the tracks where the train had stopped.

Sol Mamakwa, an NDP member of provincial parliament who represents the northern Ontario riding of Kiiwetinoong, also shared it on his X account.

“I’m just glad that the CN workers are safe after this traumatizing experience that they had,” he said in an interview from Thunder Bay.

“I think the video really highlights the reality that people are facing on the ground. For many people, this feels far away, but it’s northern Ontario, northwestern Ontario, and it’s all too real.”

CN Rail said in a statement Wednesday that the train crew was safely evacuated from the area.

“CN has temporarily suspended rail operations near Armstrong, Ont., as a precaution due to wildfire activity in the area,” the company said. “As a safety measure, CN employees in the area and residents of the Town of Armstrong were evacuated Monday night.”

Some communities in Mamakwa’s riding, including Cat Lake First Nation and McDowell Lake First Nation are also being evacuated and several communities have lost telecommunications, he said.

“The situation is unprecedented,” Mamakwa said. “The fires are moving fast.”

He also criticized a lack of public acknowledgment from Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Doug Ford on the fire situation and evacuations.

“Northern Ontario is burning, and we’re not hearing anything from the prime minister, we’re not hearing anything from the premier,” he said.

“People’s lives, people’s homes are at risk, and … every possible measure needs to be taken by Ontario and Canada to keep our communities safe.”

Ontario Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris said in a statement that several hundred highly trained Ontario wildland firefighters are being supported by nearly 40 aircraft, including helicopters and water bombers.

“Our government extends our sincere thanks to all fire crews, pilots, support staff, emergency responders and municipalities across the province that are supporting evacuees,” he wrote.

Gull Bay First Nation said its community members who have been evacuated to Thunder Bay have not been able to find accommodations.

“There are already 100 evacuees from other (First Nation) communities sleeping in their cars in Thunder Bay because there are simply no vacant hotel rooms,” the community council told its members in a statement.

“You need to call your family and friends who hopefully can provide a night or two with them in their homes while (Indigenous Services Canada) secures accommodations in other cities in Ontario.”

Ontario forest fire officials said there were 148 active wildland fires in the northwest region as of Tuesday evening, including 69 fires that are not under control. They said a total of 26 new wildland fires were discovered in the region.

Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said the provincial government “can no longer ignore the very real and dangerous impacts of the climae crisis,” accusing it of underfunding emergency firefighting budgets.

In the last budget, the province allotted $150 million for emergency forest fighting in 2026-27.

NDP Leader Marit Stiles said the wildfire scenes are “terrifying” and she has been talking to MPPs in the area, including Mamakwa who is in Thunder Bay.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2026.