Dramatic video shows train surrounded by flames as nearly 200 fires burn in Northern Ont.

The majority are in the northwest, but smoke is blowing into areas of the province hundreds of kilometres away

As forest fires continue to ravage Northwestern Ontario, communities are being evacuated, and the smoke is impacting areas hundreds of kilometres away. As of yesterday evening (July 14), there were 185 wildland fires in Northern Ontario. The majority are in Northwestern Ontario, where there are 148 active fires, including 69 that aren't under control.

Communities have been evacuated, and roads are closed in impacted areas. In the past couple of days, over a handful of fires in the northwest have seen significant growth, including fires merging in some areas. The communities that have been evacuated, according to OPP, are Armstrong, Collins First Nation, Gakijiwanong Anishinaabe Nation (Lac La Croix First Nation), Gull Bay First Nation, Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation, and Whitesand First Nation.

A fire has devastated Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, a remote community located west of Armstrong and northwest of Lake Nipigon. Anishnabek Nation says a fast-moving fire went through the community, extensively damaging or destroying homes and community buildings. "We’re aware that community members were forced to carry out an emergency evacuation without the support of emergency services, and based on information currently available, all community members known to have been in the community at the time have been accounted for; however, this will be confirmed pending a full assessment," reads a statement from Libda Debassige, Anishnabek Nation Grand Council Chief.

Several other areas are being closely watched. Those include Ignace, Pickle Lake, the Rainy River District (Quetico, Crystal Lake, Atikokan and Niobi Lake area), and Upsala. As of today (July 15) the road closures due to the fires are: - Highway 599 between 516 and Mishkeegogamang First Nation - Highway 527 – between Gull Bay First Nation and Armstrong Ontario Park reservations are also being impacted.

Quetico Provincial Park has closed the Dawson Trail Campground. It includes campsites, roofed accommodations, day-use permits and backcountry entry stations. The situation is being reassessed on July 18.

A harrowing video has been shared from a train surrounded by fire near Armstrong (a note to readers: there is strong language used in the video). CN Rail shared on social media that it's aware of the video, and that the crew members in the video are safe and were evacuated from the area. Rail operations near Armstrong have also been suspended due to the fires, said CN Rail in its post.

Fire Bans Due to the extreme fire hazard, there is a fire ban for much of the North. The northwest region and a small swath of the northeast is currently under a restricted fire zone. It prevents all open-air burning, including campfires, and all burning permits are suspended.

Portable gas or propane stoves bay be used for cooking, but must be used with extreme caution, says the MNR. "This order is required to reduce the number of human-caused wildland fires. We are expecting the current fire hazard to remain, along with the potential for problematic fires to continue and expect a continuation of the increased forest fire activity into the foreseeable future," reads the MNR alert.

Fire Smoke The smoke is blowing into many areas of the province. In the Timmins area on Tuesday, a smoky haze hung over the area, though it has cleared up this morning.

Firesmoke.ca has real-time maps of the situation and shows smoke blowing from northwestern Ontario into southern Ontario. Google Maps also offers a layer that shows forest fire locations and where the smoke is blowing.