THUNDER BAY – There were two new forest fires confirmed by the afternoon of May 19.
- Sioux Lookout Fire Number 5 is not under control at 0.5 hectares and is located near Doghole Lake in Mishkeegogamang First Nation.
- Fort Frances Fire Number 3 is not under control at 0.5 hectares and is located near Rawn Reservoir, approximately 6 kilometres northeast of Atikokan.
By the end of the day on May 18, there was one more forest fire confirmed in the Northwest Region.
- Kenora Fire Number 21 has been declared out at 0.1 hectares and was located on Gun Club Island on Lake of the Woods.
Fire hazard in the Northwest Region
The forest fire hazard is predominantly moderate with an area of high hazard in the southwest portion of the region. The forest fire hazard is low in the far north of Red Lake, Sioux Lookout and Nipigon districts.
Prevent forest fires this May long weekend
Throughout the long weekend and beyond, adopt safe campfire practices! Choose the site of your campfire carefully and keep your fire small. Stay nearby: never leave it unattended. Put your fire out by drowning it with water. Be sure that it is extinguished prior to leaving the site. Stir the ashes with a stick to uncover hot coals and then drown it again. You can never be too safe.
Consider alternatives to burning brush or yard waste this weekend, such as chipping or composting when possible, or saving burn piles for the fall or after the fire season. Use of outdoor fires must follow the outdoor burning rules set out in the Forest Fire Prevention Act of Ontario. Fires are to be started no sooner than two hours before sunset and extinguished no later than two hours after sunrise. Fires should never be left unattended and tools and water should be close at hand to put the fire out. More details on outdoor burning regulations can be found online at Ontario.ca/forestfire
To see a complete list of fires across the province click on our interactive map. You can also get the latest update on the condition of any fire by clicking the fire icon.
Fire numbers and online information:
- Forest Fire Reporting Number – 310-FIRE (3473)
- Twitter account
