A total of 21 new fires were reported in the Northwest Fire Region over the weekend, including 10 on Saturday and 11 more yesterday.
Very high winds and extremely dry forest fuels resulted in all of Northwestern Ontario experiencing an “extreme” forest fire hazard over the weekend.
All new fire starts required multiple crew and waterbomber dispatches as fire intensity and spread rates were extreme.
Any precipitation received last night was not enough to make a significant or lasting reduction to the forest fire hazard, which remains “high” to “extreme” across all of Northwestern Ontario.
The Ministry of Natural Resources has mobilized 25 four-person Type II sustained action crews.
As well, additional helicopters and heavy waterbombers, from Manitoba, have been positioned at bases throughout Northwestern Ontario.
The high intensity fires that erupted over the weekend required major resource commitments and the extra firefighting personnel are being brought in to reinforce the firefighting resources in Northwestern Ontario.
With the escalation in forest fire activity and the commitment of significant firefighting resources to ongoing fires, the MNR is recommending postponing all outdoor burning until conditions are safer.
You can help eliminate needless human-caused forest fires by postponing burning.
In related news, smoke from a large fire burning just south of the international border, in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area south of Quetico Park, will be present in Northwestern Ontario over the next few days, the MNR warned today.
Smoke may be prevalent in the area of Fort Frances, Atikokan, Thunder Bay, Upsala, Ignace, Dryden, and Sioux Lookout.
If you are concerned about the health effects of smoke from forest fires, contact your local health unit.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
