August 19: Seven new fires discovered

Seven new fires were discovered in the Northwest Region by the early evening of August 19, 2021, according to an update by Aviation, Forest Fire, and Emergency Services. 

The newly discovered fires were:

• Thunder Bay 99 is located north of Macauley Lake, approximately 44 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. The 0.1 hectare fire is not under control.
• Fort Frances 143 is located on Rainy Lake 26A First Nation, approximately 37 kilometres northeast of Fort Frances. The 0.1 hectare fire is not under control.
• Fort Frances 144 is located on an island approximately 9.5 kilometres north of Fort Frances. The 0.5 hectare fire is not under control.
• Red Lake 224 is located near Marsh Lake, approximately 111 kilometres east of Red Lake. The 0.2 hectare fire is not under control.
• Dryden 125 is located near Johnson Lake, approximately 18 kilometres south of Ignace, the 0.5 hectare fire is not under control.
• Dryden 126 is located near Campus Lake, approximately 19 kilometres south/southwest of Ignace. The 2.0 hectare fire is not under control.
• Dryden 127 is located near Dimple Lake, approximately 31 kilometres southwest of Ignace. The 0.2 hectare fire is not under control.

At the time of this update, there were 100 active fires in the northwest region. A total of 16 fires were not under control, seven fires were being held, 14 fires were under control and 63 fires were being observed. Eight fires were called out today.

The wildland fire hazard is high to extreme in southern portions of the region including Fort Frances, Kenora, Dryden, and Thunder Bay sectors. The far north portions of Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, and Nipigon sector feature low to moderate hazard conditions where rain is moving into the area, changing to a high hazard in the southern portions of those sectors.

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

Fires of Note

Kenora 51

• Following an announcement from community leaders that evacuated residents are returning to Wabaseemoong, crews have been working to dismantle values protection equipment that was previously established in the community.
• Weather forecasts indicate significant and widespread rainfall is expected to occur in the fire area over the next few days.
• Kenora 51 remains 20 km north of Wabaseemoong on the northern side of Umfreville Lake. Fire behaviour has been minimal in the south and west portions of the fire area.
• Kenora 51 accounts for 28 per cent of all the fire on the landscape in Ontario during this severe fire season (716,458 hectares).
  The Kenora 51 fire remains not under control at 200,667 hectares in size.
• Additional crews continue to be cycled in and placed on the fire line to continue with suppression efforts replacing those who require rest days.
• On the fire’s west side, crews supported by bucketing helicopters are establishing hoselines to the north and south of the Davidson Lake/Werner Lake Road area.
• On the fire’s eastern flank, where fire behaviour has been more active, crews supported by bucketing helicopters are establishing hoselines in the Fletcher Lake, Rowdy Lake and Right Lake areas.
• Heavy equipment continues to develop fireguard to the east and south of 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 continue to mop up smokes on the north west corner and are making good progress on the eastern flank to the south east.
• 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.  
• This fire has experienced some increased fire activity over the past couple of days primarily on the western flank; wet weather moving into the area in the next few days should help in the containment of this fire.
• The western flank of RED77 is showing more active fire behaviour with open flame and torching; this area will be remapped and re-evaluated in the next day.
• Infrared scanning continues overnight to assist crews in locating new smokes.
• Fireguard continues to be built east of the fire with heavy equipment and is nearing completion.