Twenty-Two Wildfires in Northwestern Ontario, Seven out of Control

July 14, 2020 – Time of Report – 17:08

THUNDER BAY – The wildfire situation – notwithstanding the rain in Thunder Bay today is continuing to ramp up, although slowly. The fire hazard is low in the west and high to extreme in the Nipigon and Sioux Lookout areas.

There were two new fires recorded today, bringing the total to twenty-two fires, with seven being out of control at this time.

• Additional fires were discovered in the evening hours of July 13:
  • Nipigon 28 is located west of Bite Lake, approximately 60 kilometres east of Nipigon. The fire is under control at 0.1 hectares.
  • Thunder Bay 37 (under control at 0.2 hectares) and Thunder Bay 38 (not under control at 0.1 hectare) are located north of Wabinosh Bay on Lake Nipigon, approximately 26 kilometres south of Armstrong.
  • Fort Frances 20 (out at 0.1 hectares) and Fort Frances 21 (0.1 hectares, not under control) are located near Eva Lake, approximately 34 kilometres east of Atikokan.
  • Fort Frances 19 is located on a peninsula of Rainy Lake, approximately 21 kilometres east of Fort Frances. The 0.7 hectare fire is under control.
  • • • Two new fires were confirmed in the Northwest Region by the mid-afternoon of July 14.
        • Kenora 23 is located near south Dogtooth Lake, approximately 29 kilometres southeast of Kenora. The 0.1 hectare fire is not under control.
        • Fort Frances 22 is located west of Kawene Lake, approximately 28 kilometres east of Atikokan. The 0.1 hectare fire is out.Fort Frances 18 is located south of Crystal Lake, approximately 27 kilometres east of Atikokan. The 0.7 hectare fire is under control.

        At the time of this update there were 22 active fires in the Northwest Region. Seven fires were not under control, 12 fires were under control and three fires were being observed.Recent precipitation has reduced the fire hazard to low in the western half of the region including: Red Lake, Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances and portions of the Thunder Bay sector. The Nipigon sector and far northeast portions of the Sioux Lookout sector feature high to extreme fire hazard.To see the fire hazard near you, consult the interactive fire map at Ontario.ca/forestfire

    Follow Ontario’s Outdoor Burning Regulations

    Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services would like to remind the public to use caution when performing any outdoor burning. In order to dispose of yard waste and woody debris, we encourage you to use methods such as composting or using your local landfill. If you must burn, follow Ontario’s outdoor burning regulations.

    Fires are to be ignited no sooner than two hours before sunset and extinguished no later than two hours after sunrise.

    Always have tools/water adequate to contain the fire at the site.