THUNDER BAY – There were no new fires confirmed in the Northwest Region by the afternoon of Aug. 8. At the time of this update, there were 30 active fires in the region. One fire was not under control, one fire was being held, six fires were under control and 22 fires were being observed. One fire was declared ‘out’ today.
Fire hazard for the Northwest Region
The forest fire hazard in the Northwest Region is mainly low in the far north and moderate throughout the southern portion of the region with the exception of a high fire hazard in the Kenora sector and in areas surrounding Lake Nipigon in the Thunder Bay and Nipigon sectors.
Help prevent forest fires
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, 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)
