With the recent rainfall, the Ministry of Natural Resources has lifted the restricted fire zone in most parts of the West Fire Region, including Fort Frances District.
“All fires that were burning in the [Fort Frances] district are now out,” said MNR fire management supervisor Harrold Boven, adding the most recent one was a small blaze in Quetico Provincial Park yesterday.
A FireRanger crew was able to extinguish without a problem, he noted.
“For a while there, we were getting starts every day. We were under extreme burning conditions,” Boven said. “[But] we were able to keep all of them small.
“[The rain has] been extremely beneficial. It’s eased the fire hazard tremendously,” he added.
Besides the obvious benefit of helping put out existing fires, Boven said the precipitation has helped soak some of the deeper fuels (mosses, etc.) that have posed a threat after the dry winter.
While the recent rain should make for a quiet couple of days for local crews, Boven warned it’s certainly possible the fire situation could heat up again in a few days.
Fort Frances District has seen a total of 50 blazes since the fire season began April 1. The district averages about 100 fires per season (April 1-Oct. 31).
Meanwhile, Boven said several local FireRanger crews were fighting fires in Dryden District, as well as some staff lending support in Dryden, Nipigon, and Sioux Lookout.
Parts of the West Fire Region still under the restricted fire zone include three sectors in Sioux Lookout, one near Armstrong, and another in Nipigon.
As of this morning, there were 39 active fires in the West Fire Region.
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