Thunder Bay – WILDFIRE UPDATE – Seven new fires were confirmed across the region today.
At the time of this report, there are 105 active fires in the Northwest region.
14 of the wildfires were not under control, 5 fires were being held, 10 fires were under control and 76 fires were being monitored.
Northwest Region
- There were seven new fires confirmed in the Northwest Region by the early evening of August 14.
- Kenora 139 is under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Burwash Lake, approximately 75 kilometres northwest of Kenora.
- Fort Frances 130 is under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Mayhew Lake, approximately 45 kilometres northeast of Atikokan.
- Fort Frances 131 is not under control at 0.3 hectares and is located near Grassy Lake, approximately 47 kilometres east of Fort Frances.
- Fort Frances 132 is not under control at 1 hectare and is located near Gussie Lake, approximately 50 kilometres north of Fort Frances.
- Fort Frances 133 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Ash Bay on Rainy River, approximately 30 kilometres north of Fort Frances.
- Dryden 120 is not under control at 0.4 hectares and is located near Kapesakosi Lake, approximately 54 kilometres southwest of Dryden.
- Fort Frances 134 is not under control at 0.5 hectares and is located near Richardson Lake, approximately 49 kilometres northeast of Atikokan.
- To see the wildland fire hazard near you, visit our interactive map at Ontario.ca/forestfire.
Fires of Note
Kenora 51
- Kenora 51 is 200,667 hectares in size and remains not under control.
- Kenora 51 remains 20 km north of Wabaseemoong on the northern side of Umfreville Lake.
- Fire behaviour is on the rise over the next few days as sunny conditions, higher temperatures and lower relative humidity levels return to the fire area.
- On the fire’s west side, crews supported by bucketing helicopters are establishing hoselines and limiting the spread of the fire in the direction of the Davidson Lake area.
- On the fire’s southeastern flank, crews supported by bucketing helicopters are establishing hoselines in the Fletcher Lake, Rowdy Lake and Right Lake areas.
- Additional crews are expected to join the suppression effort over the weekend.
- Heavy equipment continues to develop fireguard to the east and south of the fire
- An Incident Management Team is established on the fire.
Red Lake 65
- The fire is 20,254 hectares and located 6 kilometres west of Poplar Hill First Nation.
- Crews continue laying and working hose lines on strategic areas of the fires. Heli-buckets continue to assist where needed.
- Fire behaviour is smouldering with some visible smoke
Red Lake 51
- The fire is 53,522 hectares and located approximately 24 kilometres west of Deer Lake First Nation.
- Crews are working hose lines along the east side of the fire.
- Fire behaviour is smouldering with some visible smoke.
- An Incident Management Team has been assigned to oversee this fire.
Red Lake 77
- The fire is not under control and is 32,799 ha, approximately 33 km west of Red Lake.
- Fire behaviour is smouldering with some open flame on the eastern flank
- Crews continue to establish hose lines working on the north east edge of the fire while Heli-buckets assisted with hot spots.
- Infrared scanning continues to be used on this fire to locate hotspots on the fire.
- Fireguard continues to be built east of the fire.
Restricted Fire Zone in effect
Due to the high to extreme forest fire hazard, the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry is maintaining a Restricted Fire Zone in Kenora, Fort Frances, Thunder Bay (excluding Wabakimi Provincial Park) and Dryden Districts, and southern portions of Sioux Lookout and Red Lake Districts. The Restricted Fire Zone is in effect until further notice. Outdoor fires are banned. Portable gas stoves may still be used BUT must be handled with extreme care. You can learn more about Restricted Fire Zones here. For a more detailed boundary of the Restricted Fire Zone, consult the interactive fire map at Ontario.ca/forestfire or the map here.
Restrictions to Forest Management Plans and industrial operations in the Northwest Region
Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services has been advised by NDMNRF Regional Operations Division that restrictions have been imposed with respect to Forest Management Plans and industrial operations in Northwestern Ontario. These restrictions are in effect as of 12:01am Eastern Standard Time on August 11, 2021 until such time as the order is revoked.
Please see the restrictions on ontario.ca/forestfire.
- Contact: Natural Resources Information and Support Centre – NRISC@ontario.caor 1-800-667-1940.
Restrictions due to forest fire activity in the Red Lake District
Due to extreme forest fire activity, the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Red Lake District, an updated Implementation Order is now in effect until further notice that restricts access and use of certain roads and Crown lands.
All access to the following areas are prohibited unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the Red Lake District NDMNRF.
Specifically, all modes of travel and use of the North Road, Pineridge Road, Suffel Lake Road, Iriam Road and the portion of Longlegged Road west of the Conifer Road and Longlegged Road junction.
All modes of travel/access onto Storey Lake, Philip Lake, Pringle Lake (including Dedicated Protected Areas), and the North shore of Nungesser Lake at RED 68 fire perimeter.
Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, Eagle Snowshoe Conservation Reserve, Little Grand Rapids Protected Area, Lake Country Protected Area and all Crown land as outlined in the hatched area identified on the Implementation order map.
For information on travel permits call 807-727-1345.
To view a map of the implementation order area at ontario.ca/forestfire click here.
Restrictions due to forest fire activity in the Kenora District
The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Kenora District, is advising the public that due to extreme forest fire activity from the Kenora 51 fire, an Implementation Order is now in effect until further notice that restricts access and use of certain roads and Crown lands.
All travel, use and access to the following areas are prohibited unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the Kenora District Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry.
This includes all travel on Sand Lake Road, from the Highway 525 junction, east to the English River Road Junction, all travel on the English River Road, north of the Sand Lake Road junction and all travel on the Werner Lake Road from the Manitoba Border eastward to the end of the road
All use of lakes and waterways accessible from the English River system, between Caribou Falls and Separation Rapids including all of Umfreville Lake is prohibited
For detailed information on the restricted access area including obtaining a map or for information on how to apply for a travel permit please call 807-456-2694.
Please visit ontario.ca/forestfire to view the current restrictions and associated maps. Or click here to view a map of the expanded Implementation Order area.
