THUNDER BAY – FIRE Report – There were no new fires in the Northwest Region by the evening of July 20.
Recent rain has helped ease the fire situation in many parts of the region and several fires have been called out in the past few days.
However there are still 58 active fires in the region at this time and once the weather clears it is predicted that new lightning-caused fires will occur as a result of storms systems that passed through the region.
The forest fire hazard is low through most of the region except for a pocket of moderate to high in the Thunder Bay District southern sectors and in the far north of the Sioux Lookout District it is moderate to extreme due to forecast high winds.
Out Of Province Deployment
Ontario FireRangers are in Jasper National Park, supporting efforts of Parks Canada to contain a wildfire.
Ontario continues to support firefighting efforts in western Canada with 202 fire management personnel in Alberta (75), British Columbia (97), Manitoba – Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (3), Saskatchewan (6) and Parks Canada (21).
Rotation continues for personnel who have reached the end of their deployment time in Alberta and the Northwest Territories with about 91 staff who returned to Ontario on July 19 and a Type 2 Incident Management Team scheduled to return on July 22.
Further deployments from Ontario are scheduled for Saskatchewan and Alberta this week.
Ontario is also providing equipment including fire hose, sprinkler kits, pumps and chainsaws to Alberta, British Columbia, Parks Canada and Saskatchewan.
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).
