July 19: 18 fires discovered

18 new fires were discovered in the region by late afternoon on Monday, July 19, according to the Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services.

There are 111 active fires in the region. 37 fires are not under control, 9 fires are being held, 45 are being observed and 20 fires are under control.

The wildland fire hazard is high to extreme in the southern Nipigon and Thunder Bay districts as well as a few areas of Red Lake district. The rest of the region is low to moderate following scattered amounts of rain.

The new fires discovered are:

• Sioux Lookout 66 was located near Annis Lake. The 0.1 hectare fire has been declared out.
• Sioux Lookout 67 is located near Annis Lake, approximately 47 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout. The 0.1 hectare fire is being held.
• Sioux Lookout 68 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near India Lake, approximately 32 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout.
• Red Lake 142 is not under control at 200 hectares and is located near the Malette River, approximately 112 kilometres northwest of Red Lake
• Red Lake 143 is located near the Malette River, approximately 114 kilometres northwest of Red Lake. The 3 hectare fire is not under control.
• Sioux Lookout 69 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near walk Lake, approximately 48 kilometres northeast of Sioux Lookout.
• Red Lake 144 was located near Sawmill Bay. The 0.1 hectare fire has been declared out.
• Red Lake 145 is not under control at 1.5 hectares and is located near Killoran Lake, approximately 5 kilometres south of Red Lake.
• Fort Frances 70 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Nevison Lake, approximately 22 kilometres northwest of Atikokan.
• Red Lake 146 is not under control at 125 hectares and is located near west of Spoonbill Lake, approximately 108 kilometres northwest of Red Lake.
• Red Lake 147 is not under control at 332 hectares and is located 110 kilometres northwest of Red Lake.
• Red Lake 148 is not under control at 1 hectare and is located near Bug Lake, approximately 13 kilometres south of Red Lake.
• Sioux Lookout 70 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Milner Lake, 59 kilometres northeast of Sioux Lookout.
• Sioux Lookout 71 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Adamhay Lake, approximately 65 kilometres northeast of Sioux Lookout.
• Nipigon 58 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near
• Red 149 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Kotyk Lake, approximately 62 kilometres northeast of Red Lake.
• Red 150 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Kotyk Lake, approximately 60 kilometres northeast of Red Lake.
• Red 151 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Philips Lake, approximately 59 kilometres northeast of Red Lake.

Fires of Note

Red Lake 65 – of concern to Poplar Hill First Nation

• Fire is sized at 16,065 hectares and is now 7km northwest of the community.
• Poplar Hill weather station recorded 25.2 mm of rain overnight – helping to reduce fire behaviour on Red Lake 65.
• 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 – of concern to Deer Lake First Nation

• Fire size is sized at 48,760 hectares and is located approximately 24 kilometres west of the community.
• Deer Lake weather station recorded 24.6 mm of rainfall overnight, helping to reduce fire behaviour on Red lake 51.
• Three crews are 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 23,404 hectares.
• At its nearest point Red Lake 77 is approximately 28 kilometres west/northwest of Madsen and is located approximately 33 kilometres west of Red Lake.
• New fire starts to the south of the community continue to be extinguished. Two remaining fires, Red Lake 124 (17 hectares) and Red Lake 126 (25 hectares remain not under control, approximately 11 kilometres south of Madsen and 33 kilometres southwest of Madsen, respectively.
• Crews are working alongside municipal firefighters to protect the community and critical infrastructure.

Kenora 51

• Fire is not under control and remapped at 114,323 hectares.
• Fire has been active over the past several days producing smoke at the local level.
• Three crews and 12 helicopters are assigned to this fire.
• An Incident Management Team is established on the fire.