Storm Tracker

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:

The forest fire hazard in Northwestern Ontario continues to be from high to extreme. Across the province, a total of over 160 active forest fires are burning, threatening communities, and forcing communities to evacuate.

Kenora Conservative MP Eric Melillo is very thankful for the work firefighters are doing to contain the fires.

“We're all incredibly thankful. I don't think we can say thank you loud enough to all the fire crews and those working to keep the blazes at bay, just tremendous work to keep our region safe,” said Melillo

14 new fires were discovered in the northwest region by the evening of July 25, 2021, according to Aviation, Forest Fire, and Emergency Services.

At the time of this update, there were 140 active fires in the northwest region. 48 fires were not under control, 7 fires were being held, 25 fires were under control and 60 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.

Ten new fires were discovered in the northwest region by the early evening of July 24, 2021, according to Aviation, Forest Fire, and Emergency Services. 

At the time of this update, there were 137 active fires in the northwest region. 44 fires were not under control, 8 fires were being held, 26 fires were under control and 59 fires were being monitored.

The wildland fire hazard is high to extreme in the western portions of the region as well as an area of far north Nipigon district and low to moderate in the eastern portions of the region. 

Poplar Hill First Nation evacuees can finally return to their homes after a week-long stay in Kenora.

Forest fire activity has calmed down around the community enough to allow the evacuees to safely make the trip home.

The evacuees and Chief Comber expressed their appreciation for the efforts by the City of Kenora and the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to make their stay as positive as possible, given the situation.

The storm has passed.

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the late afternoon today into this evening for the Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, and Atikokan areas.

Conditions of the thunderstorm are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and damaging hail.

Hail 3 to 5 cm in diametre is expected along with wind gusts up to 100 km/h and isolated wind gusts of up to 120 km/h and a tornado or two are possible to occur.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board (LWCB) says this has been the driest year for the Lake of the Woods sub-basin since 1961, according to its records.

According to Environment Canada's Historical Records, between January 1, 2021, and June 30, 2021, 152.8 mm of precipitation fell in the Kenora area.

The average rain/snowfall for this time period is 308.9 mm, meaning the Kenora area has only seen 49.46 per cent of the expected precipitation this year.

UPDATE: The storm has passed.

Environment Canada has issued a tornado watch for Dryden, Vermilion Bay, Ignace, English River and the surrounding communities.

A tornado watch means that conditions are favourable for the development of a tornado.

Six new forest fires were discovered in the Northwest Region by the early evening of July 22, 2021, according to Aviation, Forest Fire, and Emergency Services.

At the time of the update, there were 153 active fires in the northwest region. 56 fires were not under control, 18 fires were being held, 21 fires were under control and 58 fires were being monitored. Eighteen fires were called out today. 

Newly discovered fires:

Red Lake Fire 77, which could lead to the evacuation of Madsen and Red Lake, has grown to 23,404 hectares and is listed as "not under control."

Chris Marchand, Fire Information Officer with the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, offered an update on Red Lake Fire 77.

"That fire really hasn't advanced towards the community in any significant way in a number of days," note Marchand.

Red Lake Fire 77 is approximately 28 kilometres west/northwest of Madsen and is located approximately 33 kilometres west of Red Lake.