THUNDER BAY – WILD FIRE UPDATE – There were four new fires confirmed by the afternoon of July 3. Dryden District Fire Number 19 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Sundial Lake. Dryden District Fire Number 20 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is also located near Sundial Lake. Red Lake District Fire Number 47 is not under control at 2 hectares and is located near Confusion Lake. Sioux Lookout District Fire Number 51 is out at 0.1 hectares and was located near Big Vermilion Lake.
The areas west of Ontario throughout Manitoba are all under Air Quality Advisories due to smoke from wild fires across Alberta and Northern Saskatchewan.
Crews continue to work on the Muskrat Dam Fire Complex (Sioux Lookout District Fire Numbers 31, 32, 33, and 40) and have made excellent progress in the last few days. Sioux Lookout District Fire Number 32 is now 80% contained.
Reconnaissance flights continue across the Northwest Region to observe fires in the north. These flights provide updates on fire behaviour and are useful when planning values protection in the far north. Sprinkler units are now set-up on values in close proximity to monitored fires in the far north. Values protection units are being set-up in the vicinity of Nipigon District Fire Number 31 today.
Communities near any larger fires that become active today may experience some smoke drift, but it should be temporary. Smoke from the western provinces could creep in to the west side of the province later today and tomorrow.
The forest fire hazard is high to extreme in the far north and southwest of the region. The forest fire hazard is low across the remainder of the region.
Out of Province
Ontario is supporting firefighting efforts in the Northwest Territories, Alberta, the Yukon, Parks Canada and Saskatchewan. We currently have 127 personnel deployed out of province. These include FireRanger Crews, Agency Representative, Strike Team Leaders, and Ignition Specialists. Ontario is also supplying Parks Canada, Saskatchewan and Alberta with firefighting equipment to aid in suppression efforts.
The Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services program is reminding people that they are responsible for safe outdoor fire management and must follow guidelines set out in the Forest Fires Prevention Act of Ontario including no day burning of brush or grass fires. Campfires are to be tended at all times and put out before leaving.
For further tips on how to be FireSmart, visit ontario.ca/firesmart
For more information about the current fire situation and the active fires map, ontario.ca/forestfire
The Northwest Region Fire Information Hotline is available for general information updates – 1-888-258-8842. Report forest fires by calling 310-FIRE (3473).
