Highway 17 was closed in the Whitefish area briefly Saturday afternoon due to smoke from a brush fire.
Greater Sudbury Fire Services Deputy Chief Jesse Oshell said the fire was called in at around 3 p.m. June 14.
The MTO’s Ontario 511 said the highway was reopened by just after 4 p.m.
“Smoke was travelling over the highway,” Oshell said.
“We had our crews from that area, so Lively and Whitefish, including assistance from full-time firefighters in the city core.
“We did not require the assistance of MNRF, thankfully, but we were able to get that fire surrounded and under control, and I do believe the highway has been reopened since that time.”
Oshell said he doesn’t have a cause at this time, but said an area roughly the size of a football field burned. He said no structures were damaged that he’s aware of.
The fire is not yet listed on the provincial government’s Forest Fire Info Map, although another fire that started today off of Highway 69, north of Pointe Au Baril, is listed. That fire is just 0.1 hectares in size and is listed as being under control.
The forest fire danger rating in this region is currently listed as being “high.”