KENORA – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is seeking the public’s help in identifying the individuals responsible for starting a forest fire on an island in Lake of the Woods.
The fire was 0.1 hectares in size when discovered on the afternoon of Saturday, August 4, on a small island northeast of Mather Island on Lake of the Woods. This location can be accessed only by boat from Lake of the Woods. The fire started in the vicinity of an area that individuals had used to build a campfire. Local fishermen discovered and reported the fire to MNRF’s fire management headquarters in Kenora. MNRF fire rangers attended the island and suppressed the fire.
The ministry reminds the public that all forest fires are investigated to determine their cause. A person can be held responsible for the costs of extinguishing a forest fire, as well as for any property damage incurred. Anyone who starts a fire must keep it under control at all times and extinguish it properly before leaving the area.
To report information about this incident or another natural resource violation, call the MNRF TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667 toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). And visitOntario.ca/mnrftips to view an interactive, searchable map of unsolved cases. You may be able to provide information that will help solve a case.
