File Photo Courtesy of Ontario Forest Fires Twitter

Fire Hazard Rebounds In Northwest

August 17, 2021 5:49 am Last Updated on October 2, 2025 6:06 am

As of Tuesday, there were 106 active fires in the Northwest with 18 of those considered not under control.

11 new starts were recorded Monday with four each in the Kenora and Fort Frances Districts.

With hot temperatures and humidity, Fire Information Officer Johnathan Scott says the forecast could play a role in the severity of fires this week.

“Over the next few days, for instance, the southern portion of the Northwest region, we’re going to have mainly sunny skies with some clouds, with winds out of the south,” says Scott. “Under those conditions, the fire hazard should be high to extreme for most of the region. There is some rain in the forecast later in the week, we’ll have to see if that materializes and where it occurs. Until then, the forest fire hazard will be high to extreme.”

So far, Ontario’s fire region has reported 1,096 fires this season.

That’s nearly double last years total of 563, and more than 400 more than the ten-year average.

A restricted fire zone remains in effect until further notice.

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.
A number of fire crews who have been contributing to the suppression effort for the past 14 days, are headed off the fire to refresh. Additional crews continue to be cycled in and placed on the fire line to continue with suppression efforts.
Fire behaviour varies across the Kenora 51 area. The west side of the fire has seen low behaviour in recent days. Fire behaviour is increasing on the east and northeast sections, a trend that is expected to continue as sunny conditions, higher temperatures and lower relative humidities persist.
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.
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.
Several interior smokes were detected today; fire activity is increasing due to wind and lower relative humidity
The western flank of Red 77 is showing more active fire behaviour with open flame and torching.
Crews are using hose and hand tools to action new smokes with Heli-buckets supporting
Infrared scanning continues overnight to assist crews
There is an expectation of increased fire behaviour along the eastern flank due to drying winds and increased temperatures. Crews continue to make progress as hotspots are detected

(With Files From Vasilios Bellos, Thunder Bay)