Canadian wildfires trap train drivers, choke Toronto

Wildfires across Canada's Ontario force evacuations and trap train drivers Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 6:36am In short: Operators on a freight train have been trapped by a raging wildfire in rural Ontario, Canada. The crew was rescued and train services were suspended as evacuation orders were announced for nearby towns and communities. Air quality in the province's capital of Toronto has plummeted, presenting a public health risk as the city experiences record-breaking temperatures. Raging wildfires in western Ontario have forced the evacuation of communities, shut roads and trapped two unfortunate train operators. As the inferno swirled around them, the drivers of a freight train near the small community of Armstrong said things had gotten "a little scary". "This could potentially overtake us here," one driver said. "Holy sh*t." Speaking to another person on radio, he told them to "hurry up here". "Seriously, we're encased in flames,"he said. "This has gotta move f***ing quick". Ontario politician Sol Mamakwa, of the north-western electorate of Kiiwetinoong, shared the video to social media. "I hope these guys are OK," Mr Mamakwa said. "Scary." The Canadian National Railway Company later confirmed the train's crew had been successfully evacuated and was safe. "Rail operations near Armstrong have been temporarily suspended due to wildfire activity," the company said. "CN employees in the area and residents of the Town of Armstrong were evacuated on the night of July 13." As of yesterday, the communities of Armstrong, Collins First Nation, Gakijiwanong Anishinaabe Nation, Gull Bay First Nation, Lac des Mille First Nation and Whitesand First Nation are under evacuation orders, according to Ontario Provincial Police — North West Region. "[North West Region Ontario Provincial Police] continues to monitor the ongoing wildfires in the region alongside the Ministry of Natural Resources and other partner agencies," it said in a statement overnight. Mr Mamakwa has been sharing other photos from the area, including photos of huge plumes of smoke rising from Collins, near Armstrong. "I hope people are safe, but not sure about the homes," he said. According to Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources, the fires are affecting large regions of the northern and western areas, as well as parts of the east. But the forest fire's effects are being felt in the province's capital city of Toronto, where air quality has plummeted. According to Canada's Environment and Climate Change department, air quality during the day was at 8, representing a high health risk. This number is expected to climb to "greater than 10" in the evening, which constitutes a "very high health risk". Ontario has been experiencing record temperatures this July, with Toronto recording a high of 37.6 degrees Celsius, up from the previous record of 35.6C set in 1995. Fires have also been reported just across the border in neighbouring Minnesota, where a fire in the Superior National Forest has grown to more than 5,400 hectares. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a statewide air quality health advisory as smoke from the Canadian wildfires drifts across the border. "New Yorkers may see visible smoke and hazy skies across the state and spikes in smoke-related pollution," it said.