Another wave of wildland fires in northwestern Ontario.
The Ministry of Natural Resources’ Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services stated Saturday that there were eight new starts.
Sioux Lookout 111 (SLK111) is located near Sunlight Lake, approximately 15 kilometres north of Lac Seul. The 0.1-hectare fire is under control.
Sioux Lookout 112 (SLK112) is located north of Schist Lake, approximately seven kilometres north of Highway 516. The 1.5-hectare fire is not under control.
Fort Frances 57 (FOR057) is located near Mang Lake, approximately four kilometers northwest of Highway 502. The 0.1-hectare fire is not under control.
Fort Frances 58 (FOR058) is located between Konigson Lake and Calder Lake. The 0.1-hectare fire is not under control.
Dryden 60 (DRY060) is located north of Buller Lake, approximately eight kilometres east of Highway 105. The 0.2- hectare fire is being held.
Dryden 61 (DRY061) is located near Rafter Lake, approximately nine kilometres west of Highway 72. The 0.1-hectare fire is under control.
Thunder Bay 70 (THU070) is located in Wabakimi Park, about one kilometre west of Beagle Lake. The 0.7-hectare fire is not under control.
Nipigon 88 (NIP088) is located approximately 24 kilometres southwest of Sebert Lake. The 0.3-hectare fire is being observed.
The number of active wildland fires has increased to 130, with 30 listed as not under control, ten being held, and 85 as being observed.
The region’s largest fire within Wabikimi Provincial Park saw some increase in fire behaviour.
Fourteen firefighting crews from Ontario and Alberta and a 20-person crew from Mexico are involved in the suppression efforts, with aerial support.
A fire that originated near Weaver Lake, about 70 kilometres north of Upsala, is reported to have merged with another, and is now listed at 30,758 hectares.
At Quetico Park, the blaze that consumed 25,279 hectares near the southern end is being identified as being monitored.
The fire also extends into Minnesota.
Northeast of the park, the Aviation Forest Fire and Emergency Services are using a drone to scan for hot spots on two fires, including the one around the Lac Des Mille Lac area.
Existing firefighters on that fire were joined by another group from Mexico today.
They are located in multiple locations along the fire perimeter, using a pump-and-hose line system and working towards one another with continued helicopter support dropping water on hotspots.
On the fire that started near Olifaunt Lake in Quetico Park, the Ministry states that crews focused attention on the fire’s north side where fire behaviour was more active.
They are being assisted by helicopters dropping water.
The fire south of Ignace in the Upper and Lower Moosehide Lakes area is now listed as being held, with firefighters continuing suppression efforts alongside bucketing helicopters.
