THUNDER BAY – Weather conditions are helping firefighters in tackling wildfires. By mid-afternoon on May 26, one new fire has been discovered. Cochrane 7 is under control at 0.1 of a hectare. There are currently 9 active fires in the region, of these, three are not under control, two are being held and four are under control.
Sault Ste. Marie 18 is now being held at 9 hectares, while Parry Sound 14 is under control at 1.7 hectares. Sault Ste. Marie 17 is being held at 3 hectares, while North Bay 8 is under control at 0.8 of a hectare. Kempville 1 is under control at 1 hectare.
Fires of Note:
Hearst 4 is currently listed at 478 hectares and not under control. On May 25, five crews were committed to this fire and were making good progress in containing the perimeter. The fire did not grow significantly in size on May 25. With some trace amounts of rain in the forecast for May 26, we are hoping to make progress in containing this fire.
Hearst 5 is not under control and is currently estimated to be 2574 hectares in size. Fire activity on the western side increased around 2:00 pm May 25 and air attack was called in for assistance for the remainder of the afternoon. This fire grew significantly and showed intense fire behavior. More resources will be added to this fire May 26.
Wawa 7 is currently listed as not under control at 273 hectares. Crews have made good progress on the southern fire edge near highway 11. Fire Crews will continue to work this edge in an effort to minimize effects of the fire on commuters. Good progress is being reported on this fire.
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).
