There have been 87 active wildfires reported in northwestern Ontario, as per the most recent update from Ontario’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) on Friday night. Among these, 10 fires are not contained, six are under surveillance, eight are under control, and the remaining are being monitored.
Two additional wildfires were identified in the northwest region on Friday evening:
– Nipigon 99 (NIP099) is situated east of Pays Plat, about 3 kilometers northeast of Highway 17 and 5.5 kilometers north of Rossport. This fire covers a 0.1-hectare area and is not contained.
– Nipigon 100 (NIP100) is located roughly 10.5 kilometers north of Highway 17 in Pays Plat and 2 kilometers northeast of West Fox Lake. This fire spans 0.1 hectares and is also not under control.
While the forest fire risk is mainly low to moderate across northwestern Ontario, areas of high hazard are prevalent in the southwest regions, particularly in the Thunder Bay and Kenora districts.
Notable fires in the region include:
– The Rinker Complex, consisting of Thunder Bay 36, Dryden 34, and Dryden 35, remains a significant firefighting operation. The respective sizes of Thunder Bay 36, Dryden 34, and Dryden 35 are 301,240 hectares, 45,800 hectares, and 30,201 hectares. These fires are still uncontained, with evacuation orders in effect.
– The Atikokan Cluster, comprising Fort Frances 13, 14, and 15, with fire sizes of 25,279 hectares, 51,768 hectares, and 42,273 hectares. While Fort Frances 13 is now being monitored, Fort Frances 14 and 15 are not under control.
Approximately 829 individuals remain displaced due to the wildfires in Ontario, with around 2,000 evacuees in northwestern Ontario having returned home. The ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response has conducted over 110 coordination calls with various stakeholders to manage the situation effectively.
New evacuation alerts have been issued for Fort Frances 39 and the “Thumb Fire” in Minnesota. Residents in the affected areas are advised to be prepared for potential evacuations on short notice.
In the northeast, three new fires were confirmed, with forest fire danger ratings mainly at low to moderate levels. The ministry is allocating additional resources, including new aircraft and personnel, to enhance firefighting capabilities. Assistance and supplies are being provided to those affected, including air purifiers, masks, and hygiene kits.
Highway closures are in effect in certain areas due to the ongoing wildfire activities, and residents are urged to follow evacuation orders and safety instructions to ensure their well-being and that of emergency responders. Canada Post has suspended mail delivery in several communities affected by the wildfires.
