By Deb MacLean
THUNDER BAY – WILDFIRE UPDATE – Time of Report 17:15 – There were five new fires confirmed in the Northwest Region by the evening of July 26 in the districts of Nipigon, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout.
To see a complete list of fires across the province click on the MNRF interactive map. You can also get the latest update on the condition of any fire by clicking the fire icon.
The forest fire hazard is forecast to be moderate to high in most parts of the region and rising in the coming days.
Out of Province Deployment
Ontario continues to deploy fire management resources to assist with the forest fire situation in British Columbia.
- There are currently 537 staff supporting the province of B.C. in their fire management efforts.
- Ontario plans to deploy approximately 20 more personnel later this week.
- Over 140 Ontario personnel from the first wave of resources Ontario provided to BC in mid-July are expected to return home by the end of this week.
- At the request of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, Ontario invited members of the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact (GLFFC) to help create multinational fire crews.
- GLFFC is made up of three states including Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin and two provincial natural resources agencies in Ontario and Manitoba.
- 27 U.S. firefighters will be joining Ontario crews in deployment to British Columbia to create sustained action crews.
- The U.S. firefighters arrived in Dryden July 25 and travelled to British Columbia July 26.
- The number of people in British Columbia will continue to change as resources are expected to start coming home July 27 and Ontario continues to try and fill additional requests for more assistance.
- Ontario has also provided British Columbia with firefighting equipment including 10 000 lengths of fire hose, 2 structural protection units and over 200 pump kits
Fire numbers and online information:
- Forest Fire Reporting Number – 310-FIRE (3473)
- Follow us on Twitter: in English @ONForestFires or in French @ONFeuDeForêt
- For guidelines on safe outdoor fire management ontario.ca/fireprevention
