THUNDER BAY – Fire UPDATE – The fire situation in the Northwest District is ramping up. The fire of note for the Northwest Region is Kenora Fire Number 18. Kenora Fire Number 18 is not under control at 600 hectares in size and is located near Rice Lake (5km north of Ingolf).
Kenora Fire 18 has been tracking to the northeast towards Rice Lake. Ingolf has being evacuated for precautionary measures. Tannis and Gundy Lake residents are being evacuated for precautionary measures.
The OPP are advising people at Royal Lake to be prepared to evacuate for precautionary measures. Crews are placing sprinklers on values for precautionary means in the Rice Lake Florence Lake and Malachi area.
There were three new fires confirmed by the afternoon of May 6th. Red Lake Fire Number 3 is not under control at 13000 hectares and is located in Woodland Caribou Provincial Park near the Manitoba border. Smoke drift from this fire will be visible in the western portion of the Northwest Region. Red Lake Fire Number 4 is out at 0.1 hectares and was located near Pikangikum First Nation. Sioux Lookout Fire Number 3 is not under control at 0.2 hectares.
Emergency Area Order
The MNRF will be implementing an Emergency Area Order which would include the geography between the MB Border to the west, CN Rail Line to the north, and Minaki Highway to the east, with the southerly boundary being the north side of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Within this area is the greatest risk of smoke, and exposure to greater risk – should there be a change in fire behavior.
An Emergency Area Order allows MNRF to restrict travel in a specified area on an as needed basis.
Some precautionary evacuations have already occurred and more are anticipated with associated road closures.
We are recommending that people intending on traveling into this area for weekend activity refrain from doing so as a precautionary measure until risks associated with this fire have been mitigated.
There were no new fires discovered by mid-afternoon on May 6th. There are currently 2 active fires in the region, Parry Sound 2 is being held at 3.5 hectares, while Chapleau 2 is being held at 1 hectare.
We are seeing a moderate to high hazard in most of the Northeast region.
Ontario has committed up to 119 people to assist Alberta, 82 have already left the afternoon of May 6.
Think wildfires are just a problem in the summer? Think again. Spring is grass fire season and grass fires can be a deadly and destructive menace. Seek alternatives to spring burning by considering composting or using your local landfill. Don’t be the reason behind a spring wildfire this year.
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.
Report forest fires by calling 310-FIRE (3473).
