The fire hazard in the Fort Frances and Thunder Bay Districts has risen to “high,” the Ministry of Natural Resources reported today, with most of the other districts in the Northwest region in the “low to moderate” range.
But local fire supervisor Harrold Boven said with all the rain so far this summer, the current fire situation still is “quite an improvement over what it was last year.”
Although Quetico Park seems to be a “pocket of dryness” in Fort Frances District, most other parts of the district are not posing any immediate concern, he noted.
“The areas in the west end, like Patullo where we have the Stratton tower, I wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent recovered but the rain seems to be equalizing the deficit [of moisture] we had this winter,” Boven said.
“The moisture is there. The rivers are up.
“It’s very green out there. Just beautiful. It’s great to be outdoors. The only thing is the gators and the bugs and the woodticks,” he joked.
That said, Boven reported the fire hazard averages “high” across the district and that local MNR fire management will continue to monitor this closely.
“It seems like we’re going to get the hot, blazing weather going into the weekend, and then it will cool down,” he noted, adding those planning to do any outdoor activities involving fire should be ever-cautious.
“Any time you’re using fire, you can get burned. Whether it’s a shore lunch, cooking hotdogs, or burning a bit of brush, obey the rules,” Boven warned.
“Be careful. Make sure to drown your campfire—make sure it’s out,” he stressed. “Stir up a bit—just don’t pour some water on it. Get a stick and swish it about.”
Aerial patrols will be flown in Fort Frances District today and tomorrow to assess storm damage in the forest, particularly blowdown timber which can pose challenges for forest fire management.
The only recent fire in Fort Frances District was a 0.1 ha blaze near Sandpoint Lake yesterday. Boven said firefighters were expected to be called off the scene sometime this morning.
In other fire news, MNR personnel are returning from Quebec today and tomorrow. They have been assisting that province with a severe forest fire situation.
Boven said about 20 local fire personnel have been in Quebec lending a hand.
One four-person crew came back last week while another three are returning today, along with members of an incident management team and a couple of other personnel who had performed “specialty roles” there.
Boven added there’s currently no plans to send more personnel back to Quebec.
In other parts of the Northwest region, Dryden District has called for general detection patrols over those areas that received lightning strikes during the recent storm activity to catch any fires that may pop up as hotter, drier weather returns.
Nipigon District has counted 16 days without a new fire as a result of the rain and the “low” fire hazard.
Thunder Bay District, meanwhile, is taking advantage of the quiet fire scene to work on training, brush clearing, and chainsaw assignments throughout the district.
And the MNR’s Geraldton area office in Nipigon District continues to ask the public to use care and caution while traveling on resource access roads within the Kenogami Forest.
Many of the roads have not received regular maintenance, which may present an inherent danger to travellers.
The presence of water over the road, road washouts, or heavy rutting is ever present on such roads, and poses a risk to travellers. The public should avoid traveling on unfamiliar roads and traversing any submerged roadbeds.
Even those travel routes considered familiar should be done with care and caution, and at reduced speeds.
The recent period of prolonged rainfall, combined with heavy rainfall events, has increased the risk of road washouts and flash flooding.
Backcountry water levels are high, with heavy stream flows being experienced throughout the area and, occasionally, along natural drainage paths which otherwise would be relatively dry at this time of year.
The Nipigon District office has received numerous reports regarding road washouts and water over roadbeds. Reports of new or potential washouts would be appreciated so warnings can be posted.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
