July 26: 18 fires discovered

18 new fires were discovered in the region by the evening of Monday, July 26, according to the Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services.

There are 149 active fires in the northwest region. 43 fires were not under control, 13 fires were being held, 27 fires were under control and 66 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.

The new fires discovered are:

• Red Lake 188 (0.1 hectares), 189 (1 hectare) and 190 (0.2 hectares) are located between 15 to 35 kilometres east of North Spirit Lake First Nation. All three fires are not under control.
• Sioux Lookout 12 (0.1 hectares) and 13 (4 hectares) are located approximately 230 kilometres northeast of Sioux Lookout. Both are being observed.
• Fort France 91 is being observed at 2 hectares and is located near McNiece Lake, approximately 59 kilometres south of Atikokan
• Red Lake 191 (2 hectares), 192 (772 hectares), 193 (55 hectares) and 194 (0.1 hectares) are located approximately 193 kilometres northwest of Red Lake near the Manitoba border. All four fires are not under control.
• Fort Frances 92 is being observed at 5 hectares and is located near Argo Lake, approximately 60 southwest of Atikokan.
• Dryden 93 is being held at 0.1 hectares and is located near Paguchi Lake, approximately 11 kilometres north of Ignace.
• Nipigon 69 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Armatta Lake, approximately 250 north of Geraldton.
• Nipigon 70 is under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Ankcorn Lake, approximately 131 northwest of Geraldton.
• Red Lake 195 is not under control at 0.2 hectares and is located near Ranger Lake, approximately 21 kilometres east of Red Lake.
• Dryden 94 is not under control at 0.2 hectares and is located near Ville Lake, approximately 74 kilometres east of Dryden.
• Dryden 95 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near Palette Lake, approximately 134 kilometres east of Dryden.
• Sioux Lookout 114 is being observed at 0.1 hectares and is located 110 kilometres northeast of Pickle Lake.

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. 
• Crews are patrolling the spot fire east of Stout Lake for hot spots.
• 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. More crews will be arriving soon. 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 156,394 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. 
• Use bucketing helicopters and air attack on the fire as required
• Crews are using hoselines in strategic spots to limit the fire’s spread.
• An Incident Management Team is established on the fire