Fires burning on Quebec side of Ottawa River

OTTAWA RIVER – A very dry summer is sparking a huge increase in forest fires in Ontario this year.

We are only in July and there have already been 549 fires. Last year, one of the wettest on records, saw only 147 fires with a 10-year average of 347 in Ontario.

A forest fire continues to burn on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River just above the mouth of the Presqu’ile.

 It’s believed the fire first began following lightning strikes Thursday night and gradually grew over the next few days. Reports indicate water bombers attacked the blaze both Saturday evening and again Sunday morning, but fire was still clearly visible on the hillside late Sunday evening.