Staff
Campers take note: you won’t be lighting any campfires over the Victoria Day long weekend.
The Restricted Fire Zone remains in effect, with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry planning to review it again next week.
Campers still can use a portable gas or propane stove for cooking and warmth.
When keeping an RFZ in place, managers consider all of the risks, including:
•what the forest fire hazard is in the region, not just local conditions;
•what the potential is for that fire hazard to increase; and
•what the firefighting capabilities are in the region to fight existing blazes and respond to new ones.
The fire hazard is “high” across the western sectors of the region and “moderate-high” in the eastern sectors.
But the hazard is forecast to rise across the region in the coming days—reaching “extreme” along the Ontario/Manitoba boundary by the weekend.
Meanwhile, two active fires in the Kenora and Red Lake districts have significant commitments of FireRangers.
In addition, Ontario has provided resources to Alberta to assist with the extreme wildfire situation in that province.
The province deployed another 78 FireRangers and overhead staff to Alberta yesterday afternoon, which puts the total number of personnel there at 165.
Despite the RFZ being in place, a number of new human-caused fires have occurred in the region.
One new blaze was confirmed by yesterday afternoon.
Dryden Fire #10 has been declared “out” at 0.1 hectares.
In related news, crews continue to make excellent progress containing Kenora Fire #18.
The perimeter is 85 percent contained, and there is no expectation of further growth.
The fire remains at 5,829 ha in size.
But Red Lake Fire #3, which also is straddling the Ontario/Manitoba boundary, continues to be listed as “not under control.
The fire is 75,000 ha in size.
For more information about the current fire situation, the active fires map, and the restricted fire zones, 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).
