THUNDER BAY — Firefighters responded quickly and in force Wednesday afternoon to deal with multiple grass and brush fires around the southwestern area of the city and Oliver Paipoonge.
Ministry of Natural Resources CL-415 waterbombers were also called into action to suppress a fire dubbed Thunder Bay 9, which was listed at five hectares in size Wednesday evening, and still not under control
City residents observed waterbombers flying over the harbour.
The blaze was one of multiple outbreaks, starting shortly before 3 p.m., that resulted in road closures including Twin City Crossroads between Arthur Street and Highway 11/17, and a section of Highway 11/17 between Vibert Road and Mapleward Road.
Thunder Bay Police had asked motorists to avoid the area, saying other road closures were possible, and races scheduled for Wednesday evening at Thunder City Speedway were cancelled.
The highway was declared reopened to traffic by Ontario 511 shortly after 7 p.m.
A witness told Newswatch earlier in the day she had observed flames shooting about 70 feet in the air near Twin City Crossroads.
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue reported at 9:20 pm that it took five hours to extinguish numerous grass and brush fires along the rail line extending from Thunder Bay Airport to beyond Twin City Crossroads.
It said suppression efforts were coordinated with the Oliver Paipoonge fire department and the MNR.
Priority was given to protecting residential properties along the affected corridor.
"Thanks to a fast, coordinated and aggressive response, no structures within the City of Thunder Bay were damaged," TBFR said.
Information regarding any structural damage that may have occurred in Oliver Paipoonge was not available Wednesday evening.
