More fires burning across northwestern Ontario

Dry weather and lightning strikes sparked 20 new forest fires in Northwestern Ontario yesterday, bringing the total number of blazes to 140.

Ministry of Natural Resources spokeswoman Stephanie Pagnucco says residents of Sandy Lake and Deer Lake are expected to return to their communities today and tomorrow.

More than two-thousand firefighters, including 586 from out of province, are fighting the blazes, backed by about 100 aircraft.