Storm Tracker

Northwestern Ontario has been struck with a horrific forest fire season. Many large forest fires have ignited this summer, destroying natural forests, evacuating communities, and covering the air with thick smoke.

One of the large fires of note has been the Kenora 51 fire that has been labeled out of control for most of the summer.

Today that label has changed as Kenora 51 is now being held, as per an update by the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources, and Forestry.

Three new fires were discovered over the weekend from Friday, August 27, 2021, until Sunday, August 29, 2021, according to the daily updates from the Aviation, Forest Fire, and Emergency Services. 

The newly discovered fires were:

Despite recent rain, the level of Lake of the Woods continues to decline.

Lake of the Woods fell by 2 centimetres (1 inch) over the past week and according to the Lake of the Woods Control Board (LWCB), the lake is expected to fall another 1 to 4 centimetres (1 to 2 inches) this week.

The LWCB says the outflow from the lake remains unchanged at 120 m3/s.

Lake of the Woods remains low at 322.51 metres (1058.1 feet) and is in the 10th percentile level for this time of year.

The Restricted Fire Zone remains in place for the southern portions of the Kenora and Dryden districts and for all of the Fort Frances district, but where the northern boundary has been placed has created some confusion.

Portions of the CN rail line serves as the northern boundary for the Restricted Fire Zone, which means some in Reddit and Minaki can once again have a bonfire, while others can't.

The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry has lifted the Restricted Fire Zone in the far north and the Thunder Bay and Nipigon districts.

The Restricted Fire Zone remains in place for the southern portions of the Kenora and Dryden Districts and the Fort Frances District.

In most cases, this includes grass, debris, and campfires, even when using an outdoor fire grate, fireplace or fire pit. Portable gas stoves may still be used BUT must be handled with extreme care.

The Restricted Fire Zone is in effect until further notice.

The was one new fire discovered in the Northwest Region by the late afternoon of August 25, 2021, according to an update by the Aviation, Forest Fire, Emergency Services.

The newly discovered fire was:

• Thunder Bay 101 is located approximately 8 kilometres south of Upsala. The 0.3 hectare fire is not under control. 

At the time of this update there were 83 active fires in the northwest region. A total of 10 fires were not under control, three fires were being held, 11 fires were under control and 59 fires are being observed. 

There was one new fire confirmed in the Northwest Region by the late afternoon of August 24, 2021, according to an update by the Aviation, Forest Fire, and Emergency Services. 

The newly discovered fire was:

For the first time in months, the level of Lake of the Woods is expected to rise this week.

The level is expected to rise by 2 to 5 centimetres (1 to 2 inches) over the course of the next week.

Lake of the Woods remains in the 10th percentile at 322.53 metres (1058.2 feet).

The outflow from the lake remains unchanged at 120 m3/s.

The increase in water level is due to the average amount of precipitation that has fallen in the Kenora area this month. To date, 85.9 centimetres of rain has fallen surpassing the average August rainfall of 84.2 centimetres.

Two new fires were discovered in the Northwest Region by the early evening of August 20, 2021, according to an update by the Aviation, Forest Fires, Emergency Services.

The newly discovered fires were:

Many large forest fires are blazing through Northwestern Ontario causing one of the worst forest fire seasons in recent history.

The biggest, baddest fire of them all this fire season has been the Kenora 51 fire, which is currently mapped at 200,667 hectares, and burning approximately 120 kilometres north of Kenora.