The Ministry of Natural Resources’ Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services says there were 16 new starts in northwestern Ontario on Friday.
That increased the number of active fires to 128, with 33 considered not under control, seven as being held, four as under control and 84 being observed.
The new fires include Sioux Lookout 106 (SLK106), located near Big Trout Lake, approximately five kilometres south of Jackfish Bay.
Sioux Lookout 107 (SLK107) is located near Stanzhikimi Lake, approximately two kilometres south of Highway 516. The 0.1-hectare fire is under control.
Sioux Lookout 108 (SLK108) is located south of Savant Lake, approximately 14 kilometres east of Highway 599. The 0.1-hectare fire is not under control.
Sioux Lookout 109 (SLK109) is located near Highway 599, approximately one kilometre east of Willow Lake. The 0.1-hectare fire is not under control.
Sioux Lookout 110 (SLK110) is located on an island at the south end of Lac Seul. The 0.1-hectare fire is not under control.
Dryden 55 (DRY055) is located near Highway 17, approximately 4.5 kilometres northeast of West Grit Lake. The 0.1-hectare fire is under control.
Dryden 56 (DRY056) is located near Highway 17, approximately four kilometres northeast of Kay Lake. The 0.1-hectare fire is not under control.
Dryden 57 (DRY057) is located near Shikag Lake, approximately 34 kilometres east of Highway 599. The 0.1-hectare fire is not under control.
Dryden 58 (DRY058) is located approximately one kilometre south of Phyllis Lake, approximately 15 kilometers southwest of Highway 17. The 0.1-hectare fire is not under control.
Dryden 59 (DRY059) is located north of Little Harry Lake and approximately four kilometres south of Aylsworth Lake. The 0.1-hectare fire is being held.
Thunder Bay 68 (THU068) is located near Hine Lake, approximately two kilometres south of Armistice Lake. The 0.2-hectare fire is not under control.
Thunder Bay 69 (THU069) is located west of Magnus Lake, approximately seven kilometres northeast of Baril Lake. The 0.3-hectare fire is not under control.
Fort Frances 55 (FOR055) is located near Trout River and Korpi Lake, approximately seven kilometres east of Highway 502. The 0.1-hectare fire is not under control.
Fort Frances 56 (FOR056) is located near Picture Narrows Lake and approximately 1.5 kilometres south of Penassi Lake. The 1.5-hectare fire is not under control.
Kenora 28 (KEN028) is located near Populus Lake and northwest of Atikwa Lake. The 0.5-hectare fire is not under control.
Nipigon 87 (NIP087) is located on an island on Lake Nipigon. The 1.5-hectare fire is being observed.
Fires within Wabikimi Provincial Park, referred to as the Rinker Complex, saw twenty firefighters from Mexico join MNR Fire Rangers on Friday.
A team from Alberta is also on site, working on the protection of values.
On fires around Lac Des Milles Lac and Quetico Provincial Park, firefighters from Mexico joined with Ontario firefighters, with additional crews to arrive on Saturday.
The Lac Des Milles Lac fire has been mapped at 51,768 hectares and experienced increased fire behaviour on the northern interior as it began drying out following rain the night before.
Firefighting crews are working from multiple locations along the perimeter, using a pump-and-hoseline system and working towards one another.
Helicopters continue to support suppression efforts by dropping water on hotspots and moving crews and equipment.
A fire in the northern part of Quetico Park is currently measuring 42,273 hectares and remains not under control.
Crews were busy on the north side of the fire on Friday, where fire behaviour has been more active as the area dries out from recent rain.
Helicopters are also involved in dropping water, which is helping ground crews to progress on their efforts.
The fire at nearby Crystal Lake has one crew on site extinguishing hotspots that were identified by low-level infrared scanning.
A fire north of Ignace at Upper and Lower Moosehide Lakes is now listed as being held, aided in part by favourable weather conditions that have reduced the fire’s behaviour.
Ground crews, helicopters and heavy equipment operators have been committed to that fire’s suppression operations.
They were supported on Friday by 20 wildland firefighters from Mexico.
On the fire near Cat Lake First Nation, the Ministry says it remains not under control, although FireRanger crews were making progress on suppression efforts supported by helicopters targeting hotspots.
Fires along Highway 599 also continue to burn, but have not experienced any growth in recent days.
One hundred and eighteen personnel are assigned to the area, supported by five helicopters.
Firefighters are using hand tools, pumps, and hose to extinguish remaining flames.
