Smoke from forest fires in northwestern Ontario and eastern Manitoba is still affecting the air quality in Timmins and area.
A special air quality statement remains in effect for Timmins, Cochrane and Iroquois Falls. It is due to the "high levels of air pollution" from ongoing forest fires.
"Smoke plumes from active fires in northwestern Ontario and eastern Manitoba will affect the area resulting in deteriorated air quality across much of northern Ontario," reads the Environment Canada advisory.
"Conditions are expected to improve tonight or Tuesday morning as winds shift to a more northerly direction with the passage of a cold front."
As of yesterday afternoon, there were 101 active fires in northwestern Ontario.
Three communities — Poplar Hill First Nation, Deer Lake First Nation and Pikangikum First Nation — have been evacuated, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
About 150 evacuees from Pikangikum First Nation are staying in Timmins. To allow for access to additional resources and provincial aid as the city hosts evacuees, a state of emergency was declared on July 14.
A total of 865 people have been evacuated from Pikangikum First Nation, with the other people being housed in Sudbury, Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay.
There are 650 people evacuated from Deer Lake who are being hosted in Thunder Bay, Cornwall, Cochrane and Dryden.
The 560 evacuees from Poplar Hill are being hosted in Thunder, Bay, Kapuskasing and Cochrane.
