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DRYDEN — Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry fire rangers are facing a growing workload in Northwestern Ontario.
The MNRF reported nine new fires in the region on Monday, with additional reports still under investigation.
As of Monday evening, there were 17 active fires in the region, including 11 that were not under control.
Sioux Lookout district fire # 3, near Great Portage Lake, has burned 72 hectares in an area about 45 kilometres northwest of the town.
The fire required aggressive initial attack with waterbombers.
Six ranger crews are currently assigned to it.
Elsewhere, Dryden district fire # 13 has burned 30 hectares near Melgund Lake, about four kilometres northeast of Borups Corners.
The MNRF reports that the fire hazard is high to extreme in the southern half of the Northwest Region close to the US border.
