TORONTO, July 15 (Reuters) - Rio Tinto on Monday

said it has initiated a "coordinated shutdown" at the Iron Ore

Company of Canada in Newfoundland and Labrador in response to an

evacuation order issued by the local government over wildfires.

The iron ore mine is jointly owned by Rio Tinto, Mitsubishi

Corp. ( MSBHF ) and Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Income Corporation.

Earlier in the day Champion Iron Ore Limited also said

that it was temporarily shutting down operations at its Bloom

Lake mine.

"There have been no injuries or damage to company

infrastructure to date. We will initiate a restart of operations

as soon as government authorities indicate that it is safe to do

so," Rio Tinto said in a statement.

On Saturday an aggressive forest fire in Newfoundland and

Labrador forced the local government to order the evacuation of

residents in Labrador City.

The local government on Monday announced a one-time

financial assistance payment of C$1000 ($731.42) to households

that were ordered to evacuate from their residence due to

wildfires.

($1 = 1.3672 Canadian dollars)