July 17: 15 fires reported

15 new fires were discovered in the region by late afternoon on Saturday, July 17, according to the Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services.

There are 102 active fires in the northwest region. Thirty-four fires are not under control, seven fires are being held, 18 fires are under control and 43 fires are being observed. A total of 13 fires were called out on Saturday.

The forest fire hazard is high to extreme across the district and the Restricted Fire Zone remains in place.

The new fires discovered are;

• Nipigon 55 is located west of Hawke Lake near Auden on the CNR rail corridor. The 0.5 hectare fire is not under control. 
• Sioux Lookout 62 is located near the Fawn River, approximately 51 kilometres west of the community of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake). The 0.8 hectare fire is not under control. 
• Kenora 102 is located west of North Scot Lake, approximately 55 kilometres west/northwest of Kenora. The 30 hectare fire is not under control and received air attack this afternoon. 
• Fort Frances 66 (10 hectares, not under control) and Fort Frances 67 (0.3 hectares, not under control are located north of Pipestone Lake, approximately 53 kilometres north of Fort Frances. These fires received air attack today. 
• Red Lake 127 is located south of Hornby Lake, approximately 44 kilometres southwest of North Spirit Lake First Nation, the 553 hectare fire is being observed. 
• Nipigon 56 is located approximately 2.5 kilometres southeast of Schreiber. The 0.2 hectare fire is not under control. 
• Red Lake 128 (1.0 hectare, not under control) and Red Lake 130 (0.1 hectare, not under control) are located approximately 28 kilometres west/southwest of the remote community of North Spirit Lake First Nation. 
• Red Lake 129 is located near Margot lake, approximately 15 kilometres west of the community of North Spirit Lake. The 8 hectare fire is not under control. 
• Sioux Lookout 63 is located north of Pipestone River Provincial Park, approximately 121 kilometres north of Pickle Lake. The 80 hectare fire is being observed. 
• Red Lake 131 is located 27 kilometres southwest of North Spirit First Nation, The 0.2 hectare fire is not under control.  
• Kenora 103 is located west of Turtle Lake, approximately four kilometres northwest of the community of Wabaseemoong Independent Nation. The 0.2 hectare fire is not under control. 
• Red Lake 132 is located approximately 18 kilometres southwest of North Spirit Lake First Nation, The 0.1 hectare fire is not under control. 
• Kenora 104 is located on a peninsula on Tetu Lake, approximately 10 kilometres north of the community of Wabaseemoong Independent Nation (Whitedog). The 0.3 hectare fire is not under control. 
• Red Lake 133 is located approximately 28 kilometres west of North Spirit Lake First Nation. The 0.2 hectare fire is not under control.

Fires of note

• Red Lake 65 – of concern to Poplar Hill First Nation 
  • Fire is sized at 12,325 hectares and is now 7km northwest of the community.  
  • Fire behaviour is too aggressive to safely put out ground crews. The safety of our firefighters is a top priority. Fire officials are looking for opportunities to bring the fire to natural boundaries. 
  • Three FireRanger crews assigned to protect the community and critical infrastructure. 
  • Smoke and visibility pose challenges for using firefighting aircraft in the area. 
  • The Ministry of the Solicitor General has coordinated an evacuation of the community. 
• Red Lake 51 – Fire of concern to Deer Lake First Nation 
  • Fire size is sized at 45,776 hectares and is located approximately 24 kilometres west of the community. 
  • Fire behaviour is too aggressive to safely put out ground crews. The safety of our firefighters is a top priority. Fire officials are looking for opportunities to bring the eastern edge of the fire closest to the community fire to natural boundaries. 
  • Crews focused on the protection of the community and critical infrastructure. 
  • The Ministry of the Solicitor General has coordinated an evacuation of the community.
• Red Lake 77 – Fire of concern to Red Lake 
  • Fire is Not under control at 17,120 hectares and is located approximately 36 kilometres west of Red Lake. 
  • Firefighters have had to contend with seven new fire starts south of the community since Friday, requiring waterbomber support and helicopters bucketing water. 
  • Crews are working alongside municipal firefighters to protect the community and critical infrastructure. 
  • Crews working to protect community and critical infrastructure  
• Kenora 51 
  • Fire is not under control and remapped at 90,134 hectares.  
  • Crews are maintaining sprinklers on structures in the vicinity of the fire  
  • Fire has been active over the past several days producing smoke at the local level  
  • Crews are establishing hoselines on sections of the fire  
  • 13 crews and 12 helicopters are assigned to this fire.  
  • An Incident Management Team is established on the fire.