A wildfire that burned for about a week in the Cochrane District is now being held by firefighters. The fire, known as Cochrane 26, is roughly 27 kilometres south of Hearst, near Coppell Lake. As of July 9, 2026, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources says the blaze is not expected to spread beyond its current perimeter.
The fire was first reported on July 3, 2026, starting at an estimated 20 hectares. It grew to 74.7 hectares before crews could get it under control. A being-held status means that with the resources on hand, the fire likely won’t move past its existing boundaries under the current weather conditions.
Five FireRanger crews remain on site doing continued suppression work. They are getting support from helicopter bucket drops. Earlier in the week, two CL415 waterbombers and a lead birddog aircraft also helped battle the flames. No one has had to evacuate, and no homes or buildings have been threatened.
Hearst is a town of about 4,794 people in Northern Ontario. The successful effort to contain Cochrane 26 comes as the national wildfire season stays below the five-year average. Across Canada, there have been 3,137 fires and 1.4 million hectares burned so far, according to a July update from Public Safety Canada.
