August 15: Ten new fires discovered

Ten new fires were discovered by the early evening of August 15, 2021, according to an update by the Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services. 

The newly discovered fires were:

• Fort Frances 135 is under control at 0.3 hectares and is located near Chill Lake, approximately 60 kilometres northeast of Atikokan.
• Thunder Bay 92 is under control at 0.1 hectares and is located south of City Road in Fort William First Nation.
• Sioux Lookout 133 is being observed at 5 hectares and is located near Karl Lake, approximately 128 kilometres north of Pickle Lake.
• Thunder Bay 93 is being held at 0.2 hectares and is located near Mosher Lake, approximately 138 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay.
• Kenora 141 is being held at 0.1 hectares and is located on an island on Lake of the Woods, approximately 70 kilometres south of Kenora.
• Thunder Bay 94 is not under control at 0.8 hectares and is located near Young Lake, approximately 63 kilometres west of Thunder Bay.
• Thunder Bay 95 is not under control at 5 hectares and is located near Gall Lake, approximately 110 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay.
• Thunder Bay 96 is not under control at 1.5 hectares and is located near Hoof Lake, approximately 82 kilometres west of Thunder Bay.
• Thunder Bay 97 is not under control at 3 hectares and is located near Little Petry Lake, approximately 157 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay.
• Fort Frances 136 is not under control at 2.5 hectares and is located near Wasp Lake, approximately 32 kilometres north of Atikokan.

At the time of this update there were 114 active fires in the northwest region. 16 fires were not under control, 8 fires were being held, 13 fires were under control and 77 fires were being monitored.

To see the wildland fire hazard near you, visit our interactive map at Ontario.ca/forestfire.  

Fires of Note 

Kenora 51

• Kenora 51 is 200,667 hectares in size and remains not under control.
• Kenora 51 remains 20 km north of Wabaseemoong on the northern side of Umfreville Lake.
• A number of fire crews who have been contributing to the suppression effort for the past 14 days, are headed off the fire to refresh. Additional crews continue to be cycled in and placed on the fire line to continue with suppression efforts.
• Fire behaviour is on the rise over the next few days as sunny conditions, higher temperatures and lower relative humidity levels return to the fire area.
• On the fire’s west side, crews supported by bucketing helicopters are establishing hoselines and limiting the spread of the fire in the direction of the Davidson Lake area.
• On the fire’s southeastern flank, crews supported by bucketing helicopters are establishing hoselines in the Fletcher Lake, Rowdy Lake and Right Lake areas.
• Additional crews are expected to join the suppression effort over the weekend.
• Heavy equipment continues to develop fireguard to the east and south of the fire

·         An Incident Management Team is established on the fire.

Red Lake 65    

• The fire is 20,254 hectares and located 6 kilometres west of Poplar Hill First Nation.   
• Crews continue laying and working hose lines on strategic areas of the fires. Heli-buckets continue to assist where needed. 
• Fire behaviour is smouldering with some visible smoke

Red Lake 51    

• The fire is 53,522 hectares and located approximately 24 kilometres west of Deer Lake First Nation.   
• Crews are working hose lines along the east side of the fire.   
• Fire behaviour is smouldering with some visible smoke.
• An Incident Management Team has been assigned to oversee this fire.   

Red Lake 77    

• The fire is not under control and is 32,799 ha, approximately 33 km west of Red Lake.  
• Several interior smokes were detected today; fire activity is increasing due to wind and lower relative humidity      
• The western flank of Red 77 is showing more active fire behaviour with some open flame.           
• Crews are using hose and hand tools to action new smokes with Heli-buckets supporting           
• Infrared scanning continues overnight to assist crews 
• There is an expectation of increased fire behaviour along the eastern flank due to drying winds and increased temperatures. Crews continue to make progress as hotspots are detected