July 24: Ten new fires discovered

Ten new fires were discovered in the northwest region by the early evening of July 24, 2021, according to Aviation, Forest Fire, and Emergency Services. 

At the time of this update, there were 137 active fires in the northwest region. 44 fires were not under control, 8 fires were being held, 26 fires were under control and 59 fires were being monitored.

The wildland fire hazard is high to extreme in the western portions of the region as well as an area of far north Nipigon district and low to moderate in the eastern portions of the region. 

The newly discovered fires:

• Fort Frances 82 has been declared out at 0.1 hectares and was located near Burdiff Lake.
• Fort France 83 is being held at 0.1 hectares and is located near Nora Lake, approximately 50 kilometres northwest of Atikokan
• Kenora 113 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Havik Lake, approximately 5 kilometres south of Grassy Narrows First Nation.
• Red 184 is not under control at 10 hectares and is located near Finger Lake, approximately 6 kilometres west of Sandy Lake First Nation
• Kenora 114 is not under control at 0.5 hectares and is located north of Noname Lake, approximately 41 kilometres northwest of Vermilion Bay
• Kenora 115 is not under control at 0.4 hectares and is located near Bridge Lake, approximately 51 kilometres northwest of Vermilion Bay
• Red 185 is not under control at 15 hectares and is located 14 kilometres south of Keewaywin First Nation.
• Dryden 86 is not under control at 2 hectares and is located near Raleigh Lake, approximately 18 kilometres west of Ignace
• Kenora 116 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located on an island on Kakabikitchiwan Lake, approximately 2.5 kilometres northeast of Nestor Falls.
• Sioux Lookout 109 is being observed at 10 hectares and is located near Brodeur Lake, approximately 260 kilometres northeast of Sioux Lookout.

Fires of Note 

Red Lake 65 – of concern to Poplar Hill First Nation  

• Fire has been remapped to 17,309 hectares and is 6 km northwest of the community. 
• The eastern edge of the fire continues to be monitored. 
• Fire behavior has been limited by recent rainfall, lower temperatures, lower wind speeds and higher relative humidity values. 
• An ignition plan has been approved for Red Lake 65 and an ignition will proceed when conditions are safe to put fire on the landscape to bring the fire to natural boundaries. 
• Three FireRanger crews are assigned to protect the community and critical infrastructure. 
• An aerial ignition team will work to bring the fire to natural boundaries. When safe to do so ground crews will be added with support from bucketing helicopters. 
• 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 51,926 hectares and is located approximately 24 kilometres west of the community. 
• Recent rainfall, lower temperatures, lower winds and higher relative humidity values have limited fire behavior. 
• Favourable weather has also cleared smoke from the area allowing for better conditions for aerial operations. 
• Three crews are focused on the protection of the community and critical infrastructure. 
• An ignition plan has been approved for Red Lake 55 and officials are waiting for the right conditions to conduct ignition operations to bring the fire to natural boundaries. 
• The Ministry of the Solicitor General has coordinated an evacuation of the community. 

Sioux Lookout 60 - of concern to Cat lake First Nation 

• The fire is 1487 hectares and located 8 kilometres west of the community. 
• The fire displayed limited activity in recent days due to weather conditions 
• Community protection efforts are ongoing.
• 6 crews are assigned to the fire. Crews are establishing hoselines on the fire and the fire received 5mm of rain yesterday overnight.
• An Incident Management Team from Nova Scotia is managing the fire. 

Red Lake 77 – Fire of concern to Red Lake  

• Fire is not under control at 23,404 hectares. 
• Red Lake 77 is approximately 28 kilometres west/northwest of Madsen and is located approximately 33 kilometres west of Red Lake. The fire has not moved significantly closer to the community as cloudy skies, higher humidity and lower winds have lowered fire behavior. 
• A total of 30 pieces of heavy equipment and their operators have been engaged in building approximately 40 kilometres of fire guard in strategic areas. 
• Crews are working alongside municipal firefighters to protect the community and critical infrastructure.  

Kenora 51  

• Fire is not under control and remapped at 139,116 hectares.  
• Fire has been active over the past several days producing smoke at the local level. 
• Crews are working to identify ignition opportunities to bring the fire to natural boundaries. 
• An Incident Management Team is established on the fire