THUNDER BAY — A huge additional swath of Northwestern Ontario, including the city of Thunder Bay and surrounding areas, will be under a fire ban as of midnight.
The Ministry of Natural Resources announced Thursday it is extending its restricted fire zone in the region at the end of the day. In a related move, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue said it is also implementing a fire ban for the city.
Starting at 12:01 a.m. Friday, the fire ban will extend from its initial boundaries in the west to as far north as to include Wabakimi Provincial Park, then south along the western shore of Lake Nipigon and down through Red Rock, said the MNR in a media release.
Chris Marchand, a regional fire information officer with the MNR’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services in Dryden said the region is exceedingly dry.
“This change reflects the continued high-to-extreme fire hazard across the Northwest, as well as the significant fire activity that is affecting various communities and really engaging a lot of our available resources at the moment,” he said in an interview with Dougall Media.
“It's important that we take measures to limit the potential for human-caused fires at this time.”
After the expansion goes into effect, the restricted fire zone will include all areas from the Manitoba border to the Nipigon-Red Rock area and from the U.S. border north to Cat Lake.
Its interactive fire map has all of Northwestern Ontario sitting in either high or extreme fire conditions.
“No open air burning, including campfires, is permitted within the boundaries of a restricted fire zone,” the ministry’s media release said. “Portable gas or propane stoves may be used for cooking and warmth, but must be handled with extreme caution.”
“All burning permits are suspended.”
Marchand said, if you live in an organized municipality, it’s always a good idea to keep tabs on local fire regulations.
“It's always good to check in with your local fire department and just see what restrictions they have in place — even in the event that there isn't a restricted fire zone.”
Marchand said people can also check the MNR's forest fires website.
-This story has been updated to include comments from Chris Marchand from the MNR.
