Four new wildfires Thursday night have pushed the total to around 23 active fires in northwestern Ontario, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says.
The latest starts are:
• Red Lake 34, a 0.1-hectare fire near Poplar Hill First Nation, is now contained.
• Red Lake 35, a 0.1-hectare fire north of Moreau Lake, is still burning.
• Fort Frances 17, a 0.1-hectare fire in Quetico Provincial Park, is now contained.
• Fort Frances 18, a 0.5-hectare fire on an island southwest of Morson, is still burning.
In all, five fires remain out of control, five are held, and 13 are under observation.
Fires of note
Red Lake 12, northeast of Sandy Lake and Deer Lake First Nations, remains the largest at 194,127 hectares.
A specialized firefighting team took command Thursday night. Infrared scans pinpointed hotspots along the east side, and 29 crews with 18 helicopters, including four heavy-lift machines, are working the south and east flanks.
A flight restriction covers airspace within five nautical miles of the blaze.
Sioux Lookout 18, near Cat Lake First Nation, remains unchecked at 23,648 hectares.
Crews are patrolling the perimeter and using helicopters to move equipment into remote staging areas.
Officials warn that warm temperatures, moderate winds and dry fuels could boost fire activity through Friday.
Nipigon 5, by Webequie First Nation, is held at 10,816 hectares. Crews continue mop-up and perimeter checks, and a similar flight restriction applies.
The overview shows that the fire hazard is moderate across the southern half of the region and high in the Far North.
