THUNDER BAY – Scattered rainfall over the last few days in the northwest region has been helping to lower fire behaviour and reduce the amounts of daily new starts, but a lot more rainfall is needed over a broad area in order to have lasting effects.
There were only eight new fire starts Thursday and currently there are 144 active forest fires in the northwest region.
In the western part of the region, the recent precipitation has lowered the fire hazard to moderate while the eastern part of the region remains at a fire hazard of high to extreme
According to Jonathan Scott, fire information officer for the Ministry of Natural Resources, we have had 883 forest fires in the region so far this year, 381 more than the 10 year average of 502.
The Red Lake 77 fire located 33 kilometres west of Red Lake has gotten significantly closer and is considered not under control.
The Red Lake 65 fire located six kilometres north of Poplar Hill sits at 16,651 hectares. Behaviour of the fire has been reduced by recent rain. The fire is not growing in a significant way and is not moving closer to the community at this time.
The Red Lake 51 fire which sits at 1,926 hectares and 24 kilometres north of Deer Lake has also received some rainfall which has helped out crews in the area.
