There were six new forest fires in the Northwest Region by the late afternoon yesterday.
At the time of this update there were four active fires in the region, one of which is not under control.
Dryden fire #6 is a 0.1 hectare fire located off McGogy Road, approximately five kilometres north of Dryden. The fire is under control.
Kenora fire #27 is a 0.2 ha. blaze located on Dog Island, east of Shoal Lake First Nation. The fire is being held.
Red Lake fire #15 is a 0.1 ha. fire on an island in Embryo Lake, approximately 36 km west of Red Lake. The fire is under control.
Dryden fire #5 was a 0.1 ha. blaze north of the Trans-Canada Hwy. at Gulliver River, approximately 11 kilometres east of Ignace. The fire is out.
Sioux Lookout fire #6 was a 0.1 ha. fire near Singapore Lake, approximately 47 kilometres east of Sioux Lookout. The fire is out.
And Kenora fire #26 was reported during Saturday evening. The 0.1 ha. fire was located near Jones Rd. and Island Lake, but is now out.
Meanwhile, Red Lake fire #14 near Pikangikum First Nation is now 3360.8 ha. in size.
Assisted by firefighting aircraft, 16 FireRanger crews continue to suppress the fire that is burning to the south and east of the community as well as protect values in the area. The fire is not yet under control.
Successful aerial ignition operations were completed on Saturday on the southwestern side of the fire and an incident management team will be assigned to the fire early in the week.
The fire hazard is high throughout the southwest corner of the region including the Kenora, Fort Frances Dryden and most of the Red Lake sectors.
Conditions in the Sioux Lookout, Thunder Bay and Nipigon sectors range from high in the southern reaches to a moderate and low hazard into the far north.
Approximately 230 staff members from Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services are assisting the province of Alberta with its escalated fire situation.
This includes FireRangers, support staff and one incident management team.
In addition, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is providing equipment such as pumps, hose and hand tools to support Alberta.
More than 50 staff members from Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services have been deployed to assist the Yukon with current active forest fires.
