High alert

Despite some minor rainfall, the Ministry of Natural Resources remains on high alert for forest fires in the region.

The Northwest region has had roughly 250 forest fires so far this season. There were more than 900 forest fires reported last year, which set a record in the province.

Nine new fires have started since Thursday and despite some rainfall, the MNR is still monitoring areas in the region that are considered high risk.

Jack Welch, acting fire manager supervisor for the MNR, said they are the public to exercise caution with campfires because of the warm and dry conditions. He said the rainfall so far has been isolated to certain areas and not enough to help with preventing fires.

“We’re on heightened alert since three or four days ago when the lightening started coming in,” Welch said. “We’re maintaining that heightened alert status until we get enough rain that’s wide spread and covers the whole areas.”

He said seven fires are currently burning but firefighters were able to put out 14 others. About 14 hectares of lands has gone up in smoke.

Welch said that’s considerably less compared to last year’s massive forest fires, which burned more than 600,000 hectares of land.

 

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