The raging forest fire near Timmins, Ont., has jumped Highway 144 southwest of the northern city.
Fire crews also report that a new fire on Highway 101, southwest of Timmins, has caused the evacuation of the Old Mill campground.
The city declared a state of emergency Friday, as the fires burned about 30 kilometres from its borders, spewing ash and smoke in the city's direction. The fire started on Sunday, and crews have been steadily battling the blaze ever since.
Residents of the city of 43,000 have been told to keep their windows closed due to the presence of smoke.
Though no one in Timmins has been evacuated, about 225 people have been evacuated from the smaller, nearby communities of Hydro Bay, Kamiskotia Highway and Cooks Lake. Earlier this week, residents of Mattagami First Nation were evacuated to Kapuskasing.
The massive blaze has also forced the closure of a gold mine operated by Lake Shore Gold Corp.
"We have a fire that's out of control, it's the biggest fire in Ontario so we are on guard, that's for sure," Mayor Tom Laughren told Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel on Friday.
The situation eased slightly on Friday due to a light rain, a shift in wind direction and slightly cooler temperatures. But the community remains vigilant, said Laughren.
The mayor emphasized a state of emergency was declared due to the threat posed by smoke, not fire, and said the designation allows Timmins to access provincial funding and resources to help residents.
Kirkland Lake remains on high alert
Meanwhile, the town of Kirkland Lake remains on high evacuation alert Friday, as high winds gusting up to 50 kilometres per hour affected the region.
A fire just outside the town of 10,000-- about 140 kilometres southeast of Timmins, appears to have been brought largely under control though 'hot spots' still pose a risk to residents.
The fire remains about three kilometres from the northern Ontario town itself, but it's already forced the evacuation of 300 people from outlying regions.
Fire crews and water bombers are arriving from Manitoba, Newfoundland and British Columbia to help battle the blaze.
In response to the fires, the Ministry of the Attorney General closed the Kirkland Lake courthouse on Friday. The courthouse will remain closed until officials feel it's safe to resume court services.
Meanwhile, hearings scheduled in Kirkland Lake are being transferred to the Haileybury courthouse.
The town's schools were also closed as a precautionary measure, and officials have created a $100,000 emergency fund in case an evacuation is required.
Earlier on Friday, Kirkland Lake Mayor Bill Enouy told CTV's Canada AM that the fires, while contained still pose a risk.
"It's not under control . . . it looks like it is, because it's black and simmering," Enouy said.
While the fire appears to be mostly smouldering, the town's mayor said a fly-over Thursday with infrared cameras shows many dangerous hot spots remain.
The town's residents have been getting hourly updates on local radio and Facebook, the mayor said.
"Our motto is, and we've stuck to it all week, ‘Don't panic but be prepared' so we don't want people to panic, we don't want to scare them and we want them to be aware of the situation," Enouy said.
If the situation gets worse, Enouy said residents will get at least two hours notice of evacuation, adding the community has been through mock disaster training and is ready for any emergency.
"I think we're prepared to do what we have to do," he said.
He described the long, narrow fire that spans about 2,700 hectares as having painted the forest "black" because it burned through so quickly.
"What we're worried about right now is the wind shifting out of the south and coming out of the north," he said.
But if the wind stays low and some rain falls, "we'll be fine," he added.
There's a chance of rain Sunday in the Kirkland Lake area. Thunderstorms are expected to move in by Monday.
There are currently 45 active forest fires in Ontario, 43 of them in the northeast region.
With files from The Canadian Press
