Duane Hicks
The Ministry of Natural Resources lifted the Restricted Fire Zone today after rain helped ease the high-extreme forest fire hazard that has persisted in this region for some time.
Local MNR fire management supervisor Harrold Boven said lifting the fire ban means open-air burning in the MNR’s jurisdiction is allowed once again, although the public still has to follow regulations.
For instance, a person cannot light a fire more than two hours before sunset and it must be extinguished within two hours after sunrise.
As well, those living within district municipalities and First Nations still must check with their local fire officials before they do any open-air burning.
Boven noted the RFZ, which was declared a week ago, was lifted after rain dropped the fire hazard to “moderate-low” in the Fort Frances area.
The area from Mine Centre to Rainy River received 12-15 mm of rain in the past day, and the long-term forecast shows “unsettled weather” (i.e., cloudy and cool, with periods of rain) well into next week.
“It reduces the hazard. It reduces our anxiety level, so to speak,” noted Boven.
“And it also allows for ‘green up,’ which is good for the farmers, for their hay and for their cows, and for people that are in their gardens.
“You can see it around us—the daffodils are out, the leaves are out.
“It will help get that spring ‘green up’ going,” Boven added.
There’s currently no active fires in Fort Frances District, and no new fires were reported here all week.
“Folk have been really good co-operating with the restrictions that [were] in place,” said Boven, adding he wanted to send out a “thank you very much” to the public.
“We do appreciate the co-operation from the public,” he stressed.
No new fires were reported in the entire West Fire Region yesterday.
As of this morning, there currently are four active fires in the West Fire Region, including one in each of the Kenora, Thunder Bay, Red Lake, and Nipigon districts.
In related news, Boven said the local fire headquarters is almost up to its full complement of fire personnel for the season, adding FireRanger crews have been keeping busy with training in Kenora and Dryden this past week.
“By the time Monday rolls around, we should be at 100 percent of our staffing levels,” he remarked.
“We need a couple of days of orientation with the staff before they can go out to the fires, so by next Wednesday we’re basically full bore,” he explained.
During fire season, the local MNR fire headquarters boasts a staff of about 55 people, including 10 four-person FireRanger crews, supervisors, and other positions.
To report a forest fire to the MNR, call 310-FIRE (3473).
