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Rain Expected To Help Local Fire Crews

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The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry should get some welcome relief Wednesday.

There is some rain in the forecast.

Thunderstorms are also expected and motorists are asked to be aware of potential road washouts.

The fire hazard is currently high to extreme in the central and northern portions of the region.

Thirteen new fires were confirmed by late Tuesday afternoon.

Lightning sparked a cluster of three fires about 16 to 30 kilometres west of Deer Lake First Nation.

The total size of the three is nearly 80 hectares.

All of the fires are small and pose no threat.

There are 28 active fires in the northwest and 14 are considered not under control.

 

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Caution Urged With Outdoor Fires

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A reminder that all outdoor fires should be closely attended and fully extinguished when leaving the site.

Provincial Police in Red Lake were on marine patrol last Friday when officers noticed an unattended camp fire on McCuaig Island, near McKenzie Island.

The fire had spread to the nearby forest and was also surrounded by numerous pieces of garbage left on the ground.

The fire hazard is high to extreme in the Red Lake district and officials stress outdoor fires can quickly escape, especially in dry and windy conditions.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry investigates every wildland fire and may hold those at fault responsible for the costs incurred in fighting the fire.

Safe Campfire Tips:

1. Choose a site:

  • Pick a site close to a water source & sheltered from the wind.
  • Build your fire on bare rock, bare dirt or other non-combustible material (mineral soil).
  • Build your fire at least one metre away from any flammable materials.
  • Make sure the space above the fire is at least three metres from overhanging branches & vegetation.

2. Prepare the site:

  • Clear a space about two metres wide for the fire.
  • Remove pine needles, grass, leaves & twigs.
  • Scrape the area right down to the mineral soil.
  • Ensure you have a pail of water & a shovel to control the fire.

 

3. Build your campfire:

  • Keep your fire small to a maximum of one metre high & one metre wide.
  • Remember that small fires are safer, easier to control & easier to put out.
  • A small fire will also keep cooking tools from blackening & let you get close enough to cook.

4. Stay nearby:

  • Never leave a campfire unattended.
  • Remember that you are responsible for tending your campfire, ensuring it is kept under control, & for putting it out.

5. Put the fire out:

  • Pour lots of water on the campfire.
  • Stir the ashes with a stick.
  • Pour more water over top of the campfire.
  • Stir the ashes with a stick again.
  • Repeat until:
  • the ashes are cold to the touch
  • the ashes don’t hiss
  • the ashes look soaked
  • no more smoke comes from the ashes
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30 New Forest Fires Over Weekend

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It was a busy weekend for Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry fire crews.

After responding to 20 new starts Saturday, 11 new blazes were reported by mid-afternoon Sunday.

Three of the fires yesterday were in the Fort Frances district, Thunder Bay had three, the Red Lake region recorded two, while Sioux Lookout, Kenora and Nipigon all reported one each.

There are 29 active fires but most are small in size.

17 are listed as not under control.

The largest blaze is 90 hectares in size, about 26 kilometres northeast of North Spirit Lake First Nation.

The forest fire hazard is predominantly moderate to high across northwestern Ontario.

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Fire Hazard Now High To Extreme

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There were six new forest fires recorded in the Northwest region on the weekend.

That included a roadside grass fire off Eton-Rugby Road, about 14 kilometres northwest of Dryden.

The small blaze was quickly extinguished.

There are three small active fires burning in the Red Lake, Fort Frances and Nipigon districts.

The Red Lake blaze is considered not under control, while the other two are classed as being observed and under control.

The fire hazard is high to extreme across the entire Northwest region.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is urging caution with campfires and to consider alternatives to outdoor burning right now.

Rain is in the forecast for Tuesday but there is a chance of thunderstorms.

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Local Fire Crews Headed To Quebec

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Quebec is receiving some local help from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

60 regional crew members are heading over to the neighbouring province to help deal with their fire problem.

The province is also providing equipment, pilots, a waterbomber, a birddog aircraft and other personnel.

MNRF Information Officer Chris Marchand says at the moment there are only four fires in our region which are held or under control, so they can provide the support.

The fire hazard is mostly low in Kenora-Rainy River.

Several fires are burning in Quebec, the blaze north of Lac Saint-Jean is the province’s largest one at the moment at an estimated 72,000 hectares in size.

The blazes have destroyed property but no lives have been lost.

(Photo Credit: Mike Baker)

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Fire Hazard Low/Moderate Across Region

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Rain over the weekend assisted Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry fire crews.

Three fires were declared out, while four continue to burn.

Those fires in the Red Lake and Sioux Lookout districts are being held or listed as under control.

One very small blaze sparked around 7:30 Sunday night on Big Sandy Lake, just east of Dryden.

The fire hazard is low to moderate across the northwest.

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Six New Fires Wednesday Across Northwest

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The extreme heat and some thunderstorm activity has resulted in six new fires.

Four are in the Red Lake district including a 90-hectare blaze burning 20-kilometres northeast of Poplar Hill.

Seven crews have been assigned to the fire.

Two others are in the Sioux Lookout district.

A 25 hectare fire sparked near Morris Lake, about 24-kilometres east of Cat Lake First Nation.

All six fires are currently listed as not under control.

The forest fire hazard is mainly high across the region.

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Fire Hazard Jumps To High Across Region

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The forest fire hazard is mainly high across the northwest region.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is reporting pockets of extreme in the Quetico Park area and in the far north.

Caution is urged with outdoor fires as it will be windy Monday, with heat warnings possible Tuesday and Wednesday.

There was only one new start on the weekend, a small one on the shore of Burditt Lake, about 45 kilometres northwest of Fort Frances.

It was quickly extinguished.

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Flood Watch For Kenora District

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The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has issued a Flood Watch for the Kenora District.

Although Dryden has missed a brunt of the recent weather activity, five-day totals from Sunday to Thursday may exceed 150-millimetres with some areas exceeding 200-millimetres of rain.

Some areas have already witnessed over 100-millimetres of rain.

Motorists may experience localized flooding or washouts on rural and bush roads and caution is urged by the province and Dryden Forest Management.

The Flood Watch is in effect until Friday.

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Five Active Fires In Northwestern Ontario

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The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is reporting five active fire across the northwest region.

Three are considered not under control, while crews have a handle on two other blazes.

Four new starts were reported Thursday, two in the Kenora region and one in the Fort Frances area.

A 0.5 hectare fire is also burning near Glenn Lake, about 58-kilometres southwest of Red Lake.

The forest fire hazard is high to extreme across the southwest portion of the district.

The rest of the region has a low to moderate hazard.

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