Northwestern Ontario is currently facing 110 active wildfires, as reported by Ontario’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) on Tuesday night. Among these, 11 fires are not under control, six are being held, 10 are under control, and the rest are under observation.
Five new fires were confirmed in the northwest region on Tuesday evening:
- Thunder Bay 79 (THU079) near Dog Lake, approximately 18 kilometers west of Highway 527, is a 0.1-hectare fire under control.
- Thunder Bay 80 (THU080) south of Athelstane Lake, about 24 kilometers west of Highway 17, is a 0.1-hectare fire not under control.
- Fort Frances 65 (FOR065) in Quetico Park near Baird Lake, around three kilometers southeast of McDougall Lake, is a 0.3-hectare fire being held.
- Kenora 29 (KEN029) south of Moth Lake, approximately two kilometers south of Highway 17, is a 1.5-hectare fire not under control.
- Dryden 62 (DRY062) on an island on Sturgeon Lake, near East Bay, is a 0.1-hectare fire under control.
While most of northwestern Ontario has low to moderate forest fire hazard levels, areas in the southwest, particularly in Thunder Bay and Kenora districts, exhibit significant high hazard levels.
Mike Harris, the Minister of Natural Resources, mentioned that Ontario has been addressing several challenging fires in recent weeks, notably in the Quetico area, along the Canada-U.S. border, and in Wabakimi north of Lake Nipigon. Harris emphasized the focus on ensuring public safety with the efforts of over 150 Ontario fire crews and nearly 100 aircraft, including helicopters and water bombers, supported by partners from across Canada and North America.
Harris stated that some partnering resources might be returning to their home regions soon, with some already relocated from Alberta to British Columbia.
Notable Fires in the Region
- The Rinker Complex: Consisting of Thunder Bay 36, Dryden 34, and Dryden 35, these remain significant firefighting operations. Thunder Bay 36 spans 301,240 hectares, Dryden 34 covers 45,800 hectares, and Dryden 35 extends over 31,478 hectares. Evacuation orders are in place for affected areas.
- Atikokan Cluster: Including Fort Frances 13, 14, and 15, these fires are not under control. Fort Frances 13 covers 25,279 hectares, Fort Frances 14 spans 51,768 hectares, and Fort Frances 15 extends over 42,273 hectares. An evacuation order is active for Fort Frances 14, and alerts are issued for Fort Frances 15 and surrounding areas.
Approximately 1,150 Individuals Displaced
As of Tuesday, 14 communities have been evacuated, six have returned home, and one is in the process of repatriating its residents, according to Jill Dunlop, the Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. Around 1,150 evacuees are currently hosted in communities across the province.
So far, the ministry has organized 113 coordination calls with various stakeholders to manage the emergency situation effectively.
Evacuation and Implementation Orders
Evacuation orders or alerts are active for areas near specific fires: