A wildfire burning about 50 kilometres north of Thunder Bay got a bit smaller in size on Monday, but still remained classified as not under control, provincial officials said.
The Smiley Lake blaze is located about 4.5 kilometres west of Highway 527, burning on the southeast side of the lake, according to the Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services agency.
The agency said when the blaze was reported on Sunday, it was mapped at 2.5 hectares. An official said it had dropped in size slightly as of Monday afternoon.
A cause of the wildfire — one of 10 active blazes recorded by the agency as of Sunday night — wasn’t immediately released.
An agency wildfire map showed an area of “extreme” risk for new fires to the northwest of Thunder Bay and west of Lake Nipigon.
High-risk areas were also noted in the Dryden area and along the Ontario-Minnesota border.
According to Environment Canada, the mercury is to climb to 22 C in Thunder today, three degrees warmer than normal for this time of year.
Wednesday’s forecast calls for a high of 27 C in the city. Periods of rain are forecast for Thursday and Friday, the agency’s website said.
A link to an active map of current wildfires burning across Ontario can be found on the province’s website — ontario.ca..
“The interactive fire map “provides the forest fire danger rating as calculated by over 130 weather stations across Ontario’s fire region” a provincial backgrounder says.
Suspected wildfire sightings in Northwestern Ontario can be reported to the province by calling 310-3473.
