Forest fire forces closure of gold mine in Timmins area

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By The Canadian Press

TORONTO - A forest fire in Timmins, Ont., has forced the closure of a gold mine operated by Lake Shore Gold Corp.

The fire is burning 15 kilometres southwest of the Timmins West Mine.

The company says operations at the mine have been temporarily suspended as well as all surface exploration work in the area.

Production at Lake Shore's (TSX:LSG.TO - News) milling facility and mining operations at the Bell Creek Mine, both on the east side of Timmins, are not affected.

Timmins has been fighting a forest fire for days.

An emergency has been declared at the Mattagami First Nation south of Timmins and 118 residents have been evacuated to Kapuskasing.

There are currently 45 active forest fires in Ontario, 43 of them in the northeast region.