Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services release
Northwest region
There were two new fires confirmed in the Northwest Region by the afternoon of August 28 with more reports being investigated at the time of this update. Both fires are being observed in the far north of Sioux Lookout District.
Three fires were confirmed in the Northwest Region by day’s end on August 27. This brings the number of active fires in the Northwest Region to 146.
The forest fire hazard is forecast to be moderate to high across most of the region.
Continued good progress is being reported on fires in the far north. Resources and infrastructure are being demobilized on some fires in the Northwest Region following successful suppression efforts.
Nipigon Fire Number 099 is under control. An incident management team is still in place on this fire. Crews have been digging out hot spots on this fire with the use of hand tools, pumps, and heli-bucketing. There is a travel advisory in place to ensure firefighter and public safety. Individuals travelling the Camp 81 Road may encounter closures to some spur roads (e.g. Main Road 7) to ensure safety and support fire suppression. Recreational users may want to consider alternate routes like the Lachance or Gorge Creek roads instead.
A fire is being monitored on Lac Seul in the Sioux Lookout District. SLK123 is being managed under the Lac Seul Conservation Reserve Fire Response Plan to restore and maintain the ecosystem on the island. This fire is within the Lac Seul Islands Conservation Reserve and is not being extinguished in order to achieve the ecological benefits of natural fire on the landscape. Signs are posted on the island alerting the public to the fire situation and advising the public to keep a safe distance away from the island until the fire has been called out and all signs have been removed.
To track the fire hazards and to see a complete list of fires across the province click on our interactive map.
Provincial Resources
Resources from Quebec and the United States are providing support to Ontario. A fire behaviour analyst from Quebec was deployed to the Northwest Region, and as part of a Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact (GLFFC) agreement there are 15 firefighters from the states of Michigan and Wisconsin currently assigned to a fire in the northern sector of the Northwest Region.
Due to a recent easing of the fire situation in Ontario in the past few days, resources can be provided to support the emergency forest fire situation in British Columbia. There are 117 personnel from Ontario currently in British Columbia providing structural protection, fire investigation, public information and firefighting support. There is also equipment, including ten thousand lengths of hose, pump kits and two structural protection units. One person is also out of province supporting the Canadian Interagency Fire Centre.
As part of normal rotation of staff deployed out of province, there will be personnel returning from assignment in British Columbia this week as well as more resources being sent out.
