By Robb M. Stewart


The spread of forest fires across eastern Canada and the evacuation of communities in coastal Quebec are continuing to disrupt resources companies and to force their operations to be suspended.

Exploration company Norris Lithium said Tuesday it has temporarily halted activities at its Highway and Bus lithium properties in the western James Bay region of Quebec after the provincial government issued an emergency order due to the heightened threat of fires.

The central province of Saskatchewan is also dealing with major forest fires, causing Brunswick Exploration to suspend exploration activities across three camps in the Eeyou Istchee-James Bay region after the government extended its ban on access to large areas of land and closed roads to help combat fires.

Brunswick Exploration said operations would remain suspended until it can properly assess the situation, but it would continue to work at other operations in the Montreal-based mineral exploration company's portfolio.

Champion Electric Metals has similarly temporarily ceased field activities in the James Bay area, but it said people would return to the field as soon as it is deemed safe.

The federal government has warned Canada could see the largest area of the country hit by fires if the unprecedented pace seen early in the wildfire season continues. According to the Canadian government, 413 active fires were blazing from coast to coast as of Sunday, and roughly 26,206 people are currently under an evacuation order.

So far this year, Ottawa estimates 2,214 fires nationally have burned about 3.3 million hectares, which compares with a 10-year average over the same timeframe of 1,624 fires and 254,429 hectares burned.


Write to Robb M. Stewart at robb.stewart@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

06-06-23 0925ET