THUNDER BAY – There were five new fires in the Northwest Region by the afternoon of September 1. These fires are located in the Sioux Lookout, Nipigon, and Dryden districts.
In total, there were ten new fires in the Northwest Region by day’s end on August 31.
The forest fire hazard is high for a majority of the region with an area of moderate hazard in the Thunder Bay district. Rain is in the forecast for the next few days. This will reduce the fire hazard across the Northwest Region.
The travel advisory for Nipigon Fire Number 099 will be lifted at 17:00 hrs Friday September 1st. The fire is under control and resources are demobilizing today.
There are fires burning in conservation reserves in the region. A prescribed burn on three islands in the Trout Lake Conservation Reserve – Namekosipiink 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.
People interested in prescribed burns in Ontario can check them out on the fire page – prescribed burns
To track the fire hazards and to see a complete list of fires across the province click on our interactive map.
Provincial Resources
- There are 134 personnel from Ontario currently supporting the firefighting effort in British Columbia as well as 10,000 lengths of hose, water pumps and two structural protection units. Additional resources are traveling to British Columbia on September 01.
- Ontario is also support firefighting efforts in northern Manitoba with an air attack package of two CL-415 heavy waterbombers, a Birddog aircraft and an Air Attack Officer. Additional FireRanger resources are traveling to northern Manitoba on September 01.
- Quebec and the United States have been providing support to Ontario with a fire behaviour analyst from Quebec in the Northwest Region, and 15 firefighters from the states of Michigan and Wisconsin who were taking action on a fire in northern Nipigon District. The fire is under control and these resources are returning to their home locations.
- As part of normal rotation of staff deployed out of province, there will also be personnel returning to their home bases in the coming days.
Planning to have a campfire?
Here are some tips on how to safely enjoy your campfire and avoid the costs and dangers that can arise from an unextinguished or unattended campfire:
- Choose your site carefully. Select a site with easy access to water that is sheltered from high winds. The fire must be built on bare rock or non-combustible material.
- Prepare the site. Clear a one metre space around your campfire site and remove all pine needles, grasses, leaves and twigs.
- Keep your fire small. By law, your campfire cannot exceed one metre in height and one metre in diameter.
- Stay nearby. Never leave your campfire unattended.
- Put your fire out. Soak your fire with water.
- Be sure the fire is extinguished. Stir the ashes with a stick to uncover hot coals and then soak it again!
