Despite a cooler-than-normal spring last month, wildfires burned over nearly 40 hectares of land across the province, with most of the damage occurring in Northwestern Ontario.
The figures, compiled by the province’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) agency, show the amount is greater than what was burnt in April of 2025, but still below the 10-year average for the same period.
According to the agency, nine wildfires have been recorded so far this season as of May 1, burning over 39.9 hectares.
Most of the fires were small, with the largest blaze reaching up to 31 hectares in an area near Fort Frances. That grass fire lit up on April 16 and was declared out the next day, the agency said. A cause of the fire wasn’t provided.
No wildfires were burning in Northwestern Ontario as of late Friday afternoon.
By the end of April 2025, only five hectares had burned across the province. The 10-year average for the same period is just over 90 hectares.
During wildfire season, which runs from April 1 to Oct. 31, the province discourages outdoor burning, encouraging property owners to compost woody waste material or take it to local landfills instead.
At this time of year, many wildfires are caused by human activity as opposed to lightning, officials say.
The first recorded wildfire in the province for this season occurred last month near Nolalu, Ont. It’s believed to have started by a campfire, but provincial fire officials didn’t confirm that.
Meanwhile, some rural municipalities near Thunder Bay are being proactive in terms of raising awareness about outdoor burning risks.
In a recent bulletin, Neebing’s Emergency Services department advises property owners to avoid using power tools or other equipment that can create sparks during “dry, windy days.”
Other tips include keeping propane tanks and wood piles 10 metres away from homes and other structures.
“Wildfires are not going away, but with the right knowledge and action, we can reduce their impact,” the bulletin said.
According to a federal backgrounder, wildfires burned more than 180,000 square kilometres of Canadian landscape in 2023. The country’s entire area measures nearly 10 million square kilometres.
