Canada wildfires: Watch video of the terrifying moment a freight train is surrounded by flames

A terrifying video from northern Ontario captured the moment a freight train became surrounded by wildfire flames, prompting crew members to request an emergency rescue after reporting they were "encased" in fire. The footage emerged as more than 100 wildfires continue to burn across Ontario, threatening several northwestern communities and sending smoke across parts of Canada and the United States.

The incident comes amid worsening wildfire conditions driven by record-breaking heat and dry weather, with smoke also raising air quality concerns in several US cities.

Crew reports being surrounded by flames

The video, shared by Ontario lawmaker Sol Mamakwa and filmed from inside a Canadian National (CN) Rail freight train near Armstrong, Ontario, shows flames burning on both sides of the railway tracks while dense smoke engulfs the surrounding area.

During a radio transmission, a crew member can be heard warning that the fire was closing in.

"This could potentially overtake us here, this has gotten a little scary," one worker said.

Another urgent message followed: "Y'all need to hurry up here. Seriously. We're encased in flames. This has got to move f**king quick."

Also Read: Where are the Canadian wildfires currently? Check affected Canada and US cities, smoke forecast and latest updates

CN Rail suspends operations

Canadian National Rail confirmed that three trains carrying flammable materials were stopped in the Armstrong area because of the wildfires.

The company said all crew members were safely evacuated and relocated, and operations in the affected region have been temporarily suspended.

The Ontario Provincial Police also said trains transporting combustible cargo had been safely staged in the Allanwater Subdivision near Collins to reduce the risk posed by the advancing fires.

Wildfires continue to threaten northwestern Ontario

More than 100 wildfires are currently burning across Ontario, with several communities in the northwestern part of the province under threat.

The fires are part of a wider wildfire emergency across Canada, where more than 830 wildfires are burning and over 100 remain out of control. Authorities have warned that fire danger could increase further as hot and dry conditions persist.

Smoke spreads into US cities

Smoke from the Canadian wildfires has blanketed parts of Canada and drifted into the United States, triggering air quality alerts across portions of the Midwest and Northeast.

Toronto woke up to hazy skies and some of the world's poorest air quality, while officials have warned that wildfire smoke could continue spreading into several US cities, including areas of New Jersey, where Sunday's FIFA World Cup final is scheduled to be held.