More firefighters head to B.C.

One hundred additional Ontario FireRangers, including 61 from Northwestern Ontario, headed for British Columbia on Saturday to join 209 other personnel already there assisting in the forest firefighting effort, the Ministry of Natural Resources reported this morning.
More than 50 new fires were reported in British Columbia on Friday, which brought the total active fires in the province to 575.
Meanwhile, the fire season in the West Fire Region continues to be quiet. No new fires ignited over the weekend, and only a total of 198 have been reported since April 1.
Five blazes remain active in the West Fire Region, but they simply are being monitored as they burn in isolated locations.
Fort Frances District currently has two active fires, covering about 9.5 ha. Both of these are burning in Quetico Park, where natural fire started by lightning can be managed to allow for renewal within the forest.
The district has seen 37 fires to date, consuming 1,253.7 ha. This accounts for most of the 1,355.5 ha. in total that has burned in the West Fire Region since the start of fire season.
Nipigon District currently has three active fires, covering 5.6 ha. It has seen 35 fires to date, charring a total of 14.9 ha.
Dryden District has had 13 fires to date, consuming 5.6 ha, while Kenora District has seen a total of 24, burning only 8.3 ha.
Sioux Lookout District has had 26 fires to date, blackening a total of 34.8 ha.
Red Lake District has had 21 fires so far, consuming 16.8 ha, while Thunder Bay District has seen 42 since April 1, burning 21.8 ha.
The fire hazard is “low to moderate” across the region. And that likely won’t change for the Fort Frances District anytime soon as there’s a chance of showers in the forecast for the entire week ahead.
In related news, Fort Frances District fire staff held an information booth at the Emo Fair over the weekend. They also had a fire engine and a boat on display to demonstrate the equipment used in the district.
The slower fire season here has enabled staff across the region to spend more time being involved with trade shows, festivals, and public events to educate the public on fire prevention and the fire management program.
As well, FireRangers from Sioux Lookout assisted a heart attack victim on Saturday. The Ryan Mousseau crew was en route to the Savant Lake forward attack base when they came across a man on the side of Highway 599 who looked to be in trouble.
The crew pulled over to see if they could assist and determined the man appeared to be having a heart attack. Quick action by FireRangers resulted in an ambulance being dispatched from Sioux Lookout.
The crew then drove the man to meet the ambulance on Highway 516, where Sioux Lookout ambulance attendants assumed control of the situation.
The man then was taken to Sioux Lookout for medical attention.