Sioux 35 rages on

Sioux Lookout Fire no. 35 remains out of control.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources reported Monday that the massive forest fire, which led to the evacuation of Mishkeegogomang First Nation residents, is now nearly 66,000 hectares in size.

Residents were evacuated from their community due to smoke concerns last week. Those residents are now temporarily living in Sioux Lookout, Ignace and Greenstone as they wait for news about their homes.

The MNR also reported that at least one new fire has been confirmed in the northwest region. The fire in the Nipigon District started in the early evening of Monday, June 27.

Officials with the MNR say the recent rainfall has helped ease the fire hazard slightly. As a result it is now listed as moderate, which is down from the high-to-extreme that it was listed at before.

Fire prevention information is available at ontario.ca/fireprevention.