Over 1,300 firefighters from across Canada are battling blazes in Northern Ontario. 40,000 hectares have burned between 45 active fires. Timmins Fire 9 has burned over 32,000 hectares including overburning Hwy144. Hwy 101 is threatened by Timmins Fire 13 which has burned nearly 400 hectares. Smoke and ash are making breathing difficult for people within 100km. 150 have been evacuated from the Mattagami First Nations Reserve with most staying in Kapuskasing, 150km away. The sub-community of Kamiskotia (within Timmins) had been cleared but 300 residents have since been allowed back home on notice that they may have to leave quickly again. Crews are protecting "values"; buildings and equipment, while trying to control the blaze from its flanks. 17 water bombers and 56 helicopters are in use in Timmins. Kirkland Lake 8 has grown past 2,700 hectares but thick smoke in town is actually from Timmins 9, 100km away. They are still prepared to evacuate should flames reach within 1km of the town. Kirkland Lake 11 is 60 hectares and has distracted needed crews and helicopter flights, while Kirkland Lake 11 is over 400 hectares and has forced closure of Hwy65/66, cutting off the town of Elk Lake. Cooler temperatures, low winds and a steady light rain on Sunday slowed any further growth across the north but forecast thunderstorms could trigger more blazes. Of the thousands of fires across Canada so far this early fire-season, almost all have been caused by careless humans, 200 of them in North Eastern Ontario. There had been very few lightning storms across Canada in the early spring. (to view images, click "Photo" filter on the right)