the MNR
No new fires were reported in the West Fire Region by yesterday evening.
Rain has dropped the fire hazard to “low” in most parts of the region and “moderate” in the eastern sectors, including south of Thunder Bay and into Nipigon District.
The easing of the fire hazard in the west has freed up resources to support firefighting efforts in the East Fire Region.
By day’s end yesterday, the West Fire Region had dispatched 26 (four-person) FireRanger crews and 23 overhead personnel, including air attack officers, detection leaders, incident commanders, safety officer, radio operators, an aerial ignition technician, and an ignition specialist.
Personnel clerks, warehouse assistants, and inventory management clerks also headed east.
Meanwhile, aerial patrols of Red Lake Fire #32, northeast of Pikangikum, showed few visible smokes.
Division supervisors walking the line with FireRanger crews also reported very few smokes on the ground patrol.
Infrared scanning of the fire will be done tomorrow to look for hot spots not visible to the human eye.
Utilizing fire for ecosystem renewal also is part of the Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services’ mandate and currently in the West Fire Region there are eight fires being monitored for this purpose.
These included Fort Frances Fires #24, #27, and #29 in Quetico Park.
These fires are being monitored but not suppressed in order to burn off aging, storm- and insect-damaged forests.
