THUNDER BAY – July 28, 2025 | Wildfire 2025 Report – Ontario’s Northwest Fire Region continues to grapple with an active wildfire season as 44 fires burn across the region, including 7 not under control as of Monday evening. While many fires are seeing low activity levels, high to extreme hazards remain in the northern fire zones.
New Fire Near Kenora Quickly Contained
One new fire—Kenora 52, located 16 km west of Kenora in the Laclu area—was confirmed on July 28. Municipal firefighters quickly responded, and the 0.1-hectare blaze has been called out.
Over the past 24 hours, 3 fires have been extinguished, but a significant number continue to burn:
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7 not under control
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1 being held
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7 under control
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29 being observed
Fire Hazard Levels Mixed Across the Region
Recent rainfall has helped reduce fire hazard levels to low across most southern areas of the Northwest Region. However:
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Fort Frances and southern Lake of the Woods: Moderate to high fire hazard
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Far north Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, and Nipigon areas: Ranging from moderate to extreme
View the real-time Interactive Fire Map at Ontario.ca/firemap.
Fires of Note: Red Lake Fires Dominate Regional Focus
🔥 Red Lake 62 – Pikangikum First Nation
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Size: 33,739 hectares
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Status: Not under control
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Crews: 23 Type-1 and 4 local Type-2 crews from Pikangikum
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Actions: Hoselines, helipads, hotspot patrols underway
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Update: Fire activity remains low; demobilization of protective equipment ongoing
🔥 Red Lake 40 – North Spirit Lake First Nation
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Size: 8,789 hectares
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Status: Not under control
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Actions: Hoseline installation and helipad construction continue
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Support: Helicopter bucket drops ongoing; fire behaviour remains low
🔥 Red Lake 67 – McDowell Lake First Nation
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Size: 22,347 hectares
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Status: Not under control
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Update: Low fire behaviour reported; suppression equipment pulled from inactive zones
🔥 Red Lake 72 & Red Lake 99 – East of Poplar Hill
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Red Lake 72: 6,173 hectares
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Red Lake 99: Size not specified
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Status: Both fires not under control
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Update: Activity low; both fires continue to be closely monitored
Drone Warning: Airspace Over Fires Is a No-Drone Zone
Reminder: Flying drones near wildfires is illegal and dangerous. Drones disrupt aerial firefighting operations and pose a direct risk to aircraft and emergency personnel.
🚫 Stay safe, stay grounded—keep drones away from wildfire zones.
Report a Wildland Fire
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North of French or Mattawa Rivers: Dial 310-FIRE
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South of French or Mattawa Rivers: Dial 9-1-1
Stay informed via @ONforestfires / @ONfeudeforet on X, Instagram, and Facebook. For daily updates, visit: Ontario.ca/fireupdates.
