Eight New Fires Reported

THUNDER BAY – There were eight new forest fires reported by the late afternoon of August 30 in the Northwest Region and there were four confirmed fires by day’s end on August 29.

Heavy smoke is drifting into the region in the Kenora, Fort Frances and Dryden areas from large fires burning in northern and western Canada and the United States. Smoky conditions will likely exist until weather patterns change. People with health concerns from smoke should call TeleHealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. If they think there is a fire in their immediate area they can call 310-FIRE (3473).

For updates on the smoke and fire situation people can call the Northwest Region forest fire information hotline at 1-888-258-8842

There are fires burning in conservation reserves in the region. A prescribed burn on three islands in the Trout Lake Conservation Reserve – Namekosipiink (nam-e-kos-i-pink) in the Red Lake District and an island fire managed under the Lac Seul Conservation Reserve in the Sioux Lookout District.

People are advised to stay away from these areas due to possible smoky conditions and fire personnel traffic and risk due to fire activity. For more information for Red Lake call 807-727-2253 and for Sioux Lookout call 807-737-5020.

The forest fire hazard is high to extreme in the north and west sectors of the region and becoming moderate and low in the eastern sectors.

Nipigon Fire Number 099 is under control. An incident management team is in the process of demobilizing from this fire. There is a travel advisory in place to ensure firefighter and public safety. Individuals travelling the Camp 81 Road may encounter closures to some spur roads (e.g. Main Road 7) to ensure safety and support fire suppression.  Recreational users may want to consider alternate routes like the Lachance or Gorge Creek roads instead.

To track the fire hazards and to see a complete list of fires across the province click on our interactive map.

For updates on the smoky conditions people can call the Northwest Region Forest Fire Information Hotline at 1-888-258-8842.

Provincial Resources

• There are 111 personnel from Ontario currently in British Columbia providing structural protection, fire investigation, public information and firefighting support. There is also equipment, including ten thousand lengths of hose, pump kits and two structural protection units.
• Additional firefighting resources from Ontario will be deployed to both British Columbia and Manitoba this week to support firefighting efforts.
• Resources from Quebec and the United States are providing support to Ontario. A fire behaviour analyst from Quebec is in the Northwest Region. As part of a Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact (GLFFC) agreement there are 15 firefighters from the states of Michigan and Wisconsin currently assigned to a fire in the northern sector of the Northwest Region.
• As part of normal rotation of staff deployed out of province, there will be personnel returning from assignment in British Columbia this week as well as more resources being sent out.

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