DRYDEN, Ont. — A lightning-sparked fire in Wabakimi Provincial Park has grown to 1,273 hectares, compared with about 40 hectares on Monday when it was first discovered.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry describes that as "a notable increase in size," but says it will keep the fire under observation for now.
Spokesperson Chris Marchand also told Tbnewswatch on Wednesday that ministry crews will install sprinklers on outpost cabins and trappers cabins should the fire encroach on those areas.
Marchand explained that MNRF policy for dealing with fires in large provincial parks is to allow them to burn when it is deemed safe and appropriate.
"In these fire-driven boreal ecosystems, wildifire plays a role as a natural disturbance and a force for regeneration," he said.
The blaze is located about 70 kilometres northwest of Armstrong.
Marchand noted that in Woodland Caribou Park, four fires are currently burning, each over 5,000 hectares in size.
In Quetico Park, seven "fairly small" fires, he said, are being kept under observation.
Largest fire in NW Ontario declared under control
One month after it started, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has declared the northwest region's largest fire under control.
Kenora Fire 71, caused by lightning, was spotted on July 15.
It burned an area of about 10,300 hectares near the Manitoba border, approximately 80 kilometres north of Kenora.
At its peak, up to 200 firefighters including many from other provinces and the United States were participating in the suppression effort.
Even though it's now listed as under control, the MNRF still has 18 crews and nine helicopters deployed on the fire for the "mop-up" phase which includes extinguishing hotspots that are burning as deep as 40 centimetres into the soil.
Ministry seeks help identifying who started fire
The MNRF is asking for the public's help in identifying the individuals who caused a forest fire on an island in Lake of the Woods earlier this month.
The blaze was discovered on Aug. 4 by a group of anglers on a small island northeast of Mather Island.
According to the ministry, the fire started in an area where an unknown party had lit a campfire.
