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<\/p>\nFire swirls around a locomotive, trapping the drivers in the Canadian wilderness as they watch the trees around them rapidly fall apart and reduced to ash, when another train emerges from the smoke, heading further into the flame.<\/p>\n
As they radio for support and capture the scene on video, the drivers of a freight train near the small community of Armstrong say things have gotten “a little scary”.<\/p>\n
“This could potentially overtake us here,” one driver says.<\/p>\n
“Holy sh*t.”<\/p>\n
Speaking to another person on radio, he tells them to “hurry up here”.<\/p>\n
More than 800 fires have broken out across across Canada, with over 100 spiralling out of control, burning more than 1.9 million hectares, the government of Canada says, according to the latest report from Reuters.<\/p>\n
“Seriously, we’re encased in flames,” the driver says.<\/p>\n
“This has gotta move f***ing quick”.<\/p>\n
Ontario politician Sol Mamakwa, of the north-western electorate of Kiiwetinoong, shared the video to social media.<\/p>\n
“I hope these guys are OK,” Mr Mamakwa said.<\/p>\n
“Scary.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Towns across the north-western region have been evacuated and highways shut. (Supplied: Wayne Wastaken)<\/p>\n
The Canadian National Railway Company later confirmed the train’s crew had been successfully evacuated and was safe.<\/p>\n
“Rail operations near Armstrong have been temporarily suspended due to wildfire activity,” the company said.<\/p>\n
“CN employees in the area and residents of the Town of Armstrong were evacuated on the night of July 13.”<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 North West Region.<\/p>\n
“[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.<\/p>\n
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The fires have spread across a large area in the province’s west, with some areas at extreme risk of new fires starting. (Supplied: Wayne Wastaken)<\/p>\n
Mr Mamakwa has been sharing other photos from the area, including photos of huge plumes of smoke rising from Collins, near Armstrong.<\/p>\n
“I hope people are safe, but not sure about the homes,” he said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But the forest fire’s effects are being felt in the province’s capital city of Toronto, where air quality has plummeted.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Air quality has plummeted in the provincial capital of Toronto, presenting a public health risk. (Reuters: Carlos Osorio)<\/p>\n
According to Canada’s Environment and Climate Change department, air quality during the day was at 8, representing a high health risk.<\/p>\n
This number is expected to climb to “greater than 10” in the evening, which constitutes a “very high health risk”.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n