Smoke drifts over region

While western provinces continue to report more forest fire activity, there were no new fires in the West Fire Region by the end of yesterday.
The region is holding at 99 fires since the official start of the fire season back on April 1.
Strong westerly winds over the weekend blew smoke into the region from fires as far away as northern Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories.
The fire hazard is “moderate” to “low” across most of the West Fire Region, except for the southern portions of Thunder Bay District, which remains in a drying trend with lightning activity that could spark new fires.
There are three active fires in the region, all being monitored.
Nipigon Fire #12 is a 15-hectare lightning-caused fire while Red Lake Fire #7 is a 270-ha lightning-caused blaze.
And Kenora Fire #22 is 0.1-ha fire on an island about 25 km south of Kenora in the Lake of the Woods Conservation Reserve.
An assessment of this fire determined a modified response or monitoring it would benefit the area by restoring and maintaining the ecosystem, which is adapted to periodic disturbance by fire.
None of these fires pose a threat to people or values in the area.