Staff
Those who noticed thick smoke in the air yesterday need not panic about forest fires nearby.
The local Ministry of Natural Resources reported around 1 p.m. yesterday that the smoke is in fact coming from Red Lake and Sioux Lookout, where more than 80 fires in total continue to burn.
The MNR said they got calls all morning from the U.S. south of Quetico to up in Kenora enquiring about the smoke.
The smoke was strongest in the late morning and at lunch hour, but was starting to dissipate as the winds picked up in the early afternoon.
Meanwhile, there were three new fires in the Northwest Region by yesterday evening, with one each in the districts of Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay.
Despite the recent rainfall there is little relief in sight as fire management personnel continue to fight more than 100 active forest fires across the entire Northwest Region.
To date since April 1 a total of 373 fires have been declared “out” in the region. This number shows the massive and successful efforts that are ongoing to manage active fires and new fires occurring daily in the region.
The province reported all communities affected by the recent forest fires in northwestern Ontario have been deemed safe, with Ontario returning all displaced residents back to their homes by the end of today.
Provincial evacuation efforts were aided by the federal government, the Canadian Forces, leaders of evacuated communities and communities that hosted evacuated residents.
More than 2,000 firefighters —including 600 out-of-province firefighters—continue to suppress fires. Communities are currently not at risk from smoke or fire.
The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Emergency Medical Assistance Team has demobilized and personnel have returned home.
The Ministry of Natural Resources will continue to monitor forest fire activity in the northwest and will take whatever action is needed to protect communities.
and keep residents safe.