THUNDER BAY - More than a dozen new forest fires have sparked up this weekend, bringing the total number of active fires in the Northwest region to 20.
According to the latest update from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 12 new fires were confirmed by Sunday afternoon.
The new fires include a 15 hectare-sized blaze 60 kilometres northeast of Armstrong. The fire was attacked by water bombers but it is not under control.
There is also a 0.3 hectare fire listed as not under control near Vandenbrooks Lake approximately 88 kilometres north of Thunder Bay.
A cluster of fires, the biggest of which being 80 hectares, were also discovered east of Eabametoong First Nation. Fire crews conducted an aerial attack with water bombers but only a 0.3 hectare fire is listed as being held, with the rest not under control.
Several other fires were also discovered near Bearskin Lake, north of Atikokan, and Kingfisher Lake.
These new fires brings the total number of active fires in the region to 20, with 14 fires listed as not under control, two being held, one under control, and three being observed.
The forest fire hazard remains high to extreme for much of the northwest, with pockets of low to moderate hazard along the Ontario/Minnesota border.
