July 25: 14 new fires confirmed

14 new fires were discovered in the northwest region by the evening of July 25, 2021, according to Aviation, Forest Fire, and Emergency Services.

At the time of this update, there were 140 active fires in the northwest region. 48 fires were not under control, 7 fires were being held, 25 fires were under control and 60 fires were being monitored.

The forest fire hazard is high with extreme areas in the Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, Thunder Bay, and Red Lake districts. Nipigon district and the eastern half of Sioux Lookout district have a moderate to low hazard.

Newly discovered fires:

• Fort Frances 84 is being held at 0.3 hectares and is located near Long Muddy Lake, approximately 23 kilometres northwest of Atikokan
• Dryden 89 is not under control at 0.7 hectares and is located near Barrel Lake, approximately 34 kilometres north of Ignace
• Dryden 90 is not under control at 0.3 hectares and is located south of East Godson Lake, approximately 22 kilometres south of Dryden.
• Sioux Lookout 110 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Mawley Lake, approximately 109 kilometres northwest of Pickle Lake.
• Fort Frances 85 is not under control at 0.3 hectares and is located near Panorama Lake, approximately 52 kilometres northwest of Fort Frances.
• Fort Frances 86 is not under control at 0.4 hectares and is located approximately 27 kilometres north of Fort Frances
• Fort Frances 87 is not under control at 0.4 hectares and is located approximately 25 kilometres northeast of Fort Frances.
• Kenora 118 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Obabikon Lake, approximately 61 kilometres south of Kenora.
• Dryden 91 is not under control at 3 hectares and is located near Sturgeon Lake, approximately 5 kilometres south of Savant Lake.
• Fort Frances 88 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Obikoba Lake, approximately 36 kilometres northeast of Fort Frances.
• Red Lake 186 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Dixie Lake, approximately 23 kilometres southeast of Red Lake.
• Sioux Lookout 111 is not under control at 0.2 hectares and is located near Horseshoe Lake, approximately 246 northeast of Sioux Lookout.
• Fort Frances 89 is not under control at 0.3 hectares and is located 72 kilometres northwest of Fort Frances.
• Dryden 92 is being observed at 0.1 hectares and is located on an island on Kukukus Lake, approximately 42 kilometres north of Ignace.

Fires of Note 

Red Lake 65 – of concern to Poplar Hill First Nation  

• Fire has been remapped to 17,598 hectares and is 6 km northwest of the community. 
• The eastern edge of the fire continues to be monitored. 
• Fire behavior is limited on the eastern and southern sides of the fire. 
• 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. 
• Utilize bucketing helicopters on the fire’s edge as required
• 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. 
• Fire behavior has been limited over the past several days.
• 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. 

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 Friday night.
• 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.
• Fire behaviour was limited with small areas of open flame spreading on the perimeter of the fire.
• 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. 
• Fireguard continues to be built east of the fire, heavy equipment is making good progress.
• Crews are working alongside municipal firefighters to protect the community and critical infrastructure.  

Kenora 51  

• Fire is not under control and is 146,519 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