Storm Tracker

The Kenora and surrounding area have experienced one of the driest and hottest summers in recent memory.

The area may be in luck and receive some relief from the heat as this weekend's forecast is calling for rain.

“We are awaiting the cold front to come but certainly the cold front will bring some much-needed cooler air and also some much-needed rain as well,” said Gerald Chang Environment Canada Meteorologist

High percentages of rain are expected to hit the area Friday evening, into Saturday, with a brief break on Sunday and more rain into early next week.

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:

Six new fires were discovered by the early evening of August 18, 2021, according to an update by the Aviation, Forest Fire, and Emergency Services.

The newly discovered fires were:

For the first time since August 9, 2021, zero new fires were discovered today by the Aviation, Forest Fire, and Emergency Services.

At the time of this update, there were 100 active fires in the northwest region. 11 fires were not under control, 9 fires were being held, 12 fires were under control and 68 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

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:

One new fire was confirmed in the Northwest Region by the early evening of August 13, 2021, according to an update from the Aviation, Forest Fire, and Emergency Services. 

The newly discovered fire was:

• Fort Frances 129 is not under control at 0.1 hectares and is located near East Hardtack Lake, approximately 20 kilometres north of Atikokan.

At the time of this update, there were 101 active fires in the northwest region. 10 fires were not under control, 6 fires were being held, 7 fires were under control and 78 fires were being monitored.

Red Lake residents can feel a little bit of relief regarding the forest fire situation that at one point was threatening the community.

In a Red Lake Municipality, social media update Red Lake Mayor Fred Mota noted that Red Lake Fire 16 and 77 do not pose a threat to the surrounding communities.

Recent cooler temperatures and a little rain have led to little to no growth of the fires and have allowed the MNRF to make positive gains. 

Northwestern Ontario has experienced one of the worst fire seasons in recent memory with more than 1,000 fires this season burning over 500,000 hectares.

The region has experienced some relief by the way of rain and cooler temperatures in the last week, which has limited fire growth on the larger fires.

“With recent rainfall that has reduced the fire behavior on the larger fires. That being said there has been some lightning associated with that, so we have had some new lightning fires,” said Jonathan Scott MNRF Fire Information Officer

There was one new fire discovered in the Northwest Region by the early evening of August 12, 2021, according to the Aviation, Forest Fire and, Emergency Services.

The newly discovered fire was:

• Thunder Bay 90 has been declared out at 0.1 hectares and was located near Whitefish Lake, approximately 58 kilometres southwest of Thunder Bay.

At the time of this update, there were 104 active fires in the northwest region. 10 fires were not under control, 5 fires were being held, 9 fires were under control and 80 fires were being monitored.

Northwestern Ontario received some much-needed rain over the last week that has cooled down the area and assisted crews battling forest fires across the region.

An Environment Canada meteorologist spoke on the increase of rain the area has experienced

“Thunderstorms rolled through the Kenora and the Lake of Woods area late last night [August 9] and first thing this morning [August 10]. That actually gave about 20-23 millimetres of rain to the various areas in and around Lake of the Woods,” said Geoff Coulson Environment Canada Warning Preparedness Meteorologist