Staff
As dry conditions prevail and more fires are reported each day, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry declared a Restricted Fire Zone for Northwestern Ontario on Saturday morning to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires.
The RFZ will remain in effect until conditions improve.
The fire hazard currently is “extreme” because of unusually dry spring conditions, which have resulted in increasing forest fire activity.
The long-term weather forecast offers no relief in the form of significant precipitation.
Under the RFZ, all burning permits are suspended and all open fires are prohibited.
Campfires may be allowed at some organized campgrounds or parks that use approved fire pits and meet certain other criteria.
Campers should check with the owners or operators first.
Within the RFZ area, people still can use portable gas stoves for cooking and warmth, but the public is asked to exercise extreme caution.
Fire staff and conservation officers strictly will enforce the restrictions on open burning.
Meanwhile, the second fire of the season here in Fort Frances District was reported yesterday.
The 0.2-hectare blaze—a human-caused fire reported near Deer Island on Rainy Lake—is now “out.”
Four new fires were reported in Kenora District yesterday, as were three in Dryden District.
The MNRF also continues to deal with two large fires in the region.
Kenora Fire #18, which crossed the Ontario/Manitoba border in the Ingolf area, had grown to 2,736 ha in size as of this morning and still is listed as “not under control.”
An Incident Management Team has been assigned to the fire, which has had continuous air attack with CL-415 heavy waterbombers and Ontario FireRangers dedicated to placing values protection sprinklers on cottages at lakes in the area threatened by the fire.
Another fire of note is Red Lake Fire #3, which is listed as “not under control” with an estimated size of 40,000 ha.
This fire is located in Woodland Caribou Provincial Park and Ontario Parks strongly cautions people to avoid the southwest portion of the park while suppression action is underway.
Assessment for closures of routes or portages continue so people are advised to check with the park office for updates and information on possible route or access closures.
The contact number is 1-807-727-1329.
Aerial ignition to bring the fire to natural boundaries continues, and FireRanger crews will be taking limited suppression action on areas of the fire where it is safe for them to operate.
Values protection with sprinklers also is being carried out on this fire.
Smoky conditions are expected to continue in the region. The location of the smoke drift will depend on wind direction.
For more information about the current fire situation, the active fires map, and the restricted fire zone, visit ontario.ca/forestfire
The Northwest Region Fire Information Hotline (1-888-258-8842) also is available for general information updates.
Report forest fires by calling 310-FIRE (3473).
