DRYDEN, Ont. — The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says warm weather and a steady dose of sunshine have escalated the forest fire hazard in Northwestern Ontario.
The fire hazard on Monday ranged from high to extreme across the Northwest Region.
In a report on weekend activity, the MNRF said that by Sunday afternoon, there were eight new confirmed fires in the region, located in the ministry's Thunder Bay, Nipigon, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout and Kenora districts. They came on the heels of a busy Saturday, when 11 new fires were discovered.
The MNRF listed Kenora fire # 26 as a "fire of note," as it grew to 10 hectares in size and required multiple ranger crews as well as air attack to suppress. It was listed as Not Under Control on the ministry's online interactive fire map on Monday afternoon.
Another noteworthy fire, 10.5 hectares in size, is in the Red Lake district near the Pikangikum First Nation, and was listed as Being Held. The MNRF said this fire is human-caused.
On Monday afternoon, the ministry was also reporting a 4-hectare human-caused fire in the Fort Frances district, listed as Not Under Control..
