Fire Hazard High to Extreme

THUNDER BAY – WILD FIRE Update – There were five new fires confirmed in the Northwest Region by the afternoon of May 5. Dryden Fire District Number 15 is not under control at 0.5 hectares (ha) and located off Richan Road, near Dryden. Kenora Fire District Number 25 is not under control at 0.3 ha and located near Shoal Lake. Nipigon Fire District Number 8, Dryden Fire District Number 14, and Kenora Fire District Number 24 have all been declared out.

The forest fire hazard is high to extreme across the region.

Thunder Bay District 13 Still Active

Six fires were confirmed during the evening of May 4. All these fires are now being held or have been called out. Of note, Thunder Bay District Fire Number 13 is being held at 24.5 hectares and required an aggressive response from FireRanger crews, the Oliver Paipoonge Fire Department, and CL-415 Air Tankers.

The first lightning fire of the year was recorded in the Kenora district over the weekend.  Kenora District Fire Number 20 was a small lightning fire on an island of Lake of the Woods. It is now out.

The Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services program is reminding people that they are responsible for safe outdoor fire management and must follow guidelines set out in the Forest Fires Prevention Act of Ontario including no day burning of brush or grass fires.

For further tips on how to be FireSmart, visit ontario.ca/firesmart

For more information about the current fire situation and the active fires map, ontario.ca/forestfire

Report forest fires by calling 310-FIRE (3473).