Date: August 3, 2025 | Time of Report: 18:01 CDT

Northwest Fire Region – The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is reporting two newly confirmed wildland fires in the Northwest Region as of early evening, August 3, bringing the total number of active fires in the region to 48. Dry conditions and high temperatures continue to fuel fire activity across multiple fire management zones.

🔥 New Fires – August 3

• Red Lake 134: This new fire is located south of Trout Bay, approximately 28 kilometres west of the town of Red Lake. It covers an area of 0.1 hectares and is currently not under control. Crews are actively responding to suppress the fire.

• Kenora 55: Located near the railway corridor by Ena Lake, roughly 23 kilometres north of Kenora, this 0.1 hectare fire has been successfully called out.

🔥 Current Fire Status in Northwest Region

• Total active fires: 48

  • Not under control: 9

  • Being held: 5

  • Under control: 6

  • Being observed: 28

• Fires extinguished in past 24 hours: 1

🔥 Fire Hazard Outlook

Wildland fire hazard levels remain high throughout most of the Northwest, with isolated pockets of extreme hazard particularly concentrated in the southwest corner — including Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, and the southern portion of the Red Lake fire management area.

• Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay sectors: Moderate to high hazard.

• Nipigon area: Moderate hazard, with low risk in the far north.

To check local fire hazards and track current fire locations, visit Ontario’s Interactive Fire Map.

🚨 Fires of Note

Red Lake 62 – Pikangikum First Nation

• Size: 33,739 hectares

• Status: Not under control

• Update:

  • Fire activity remains low.

  • 6 Type-1 FireRanger crews and 5 Type-2 crews from Pikangikum are assigned.

  • A high-level infrared scan conducted overnight has helped direct crews to remaining heat sources.

  • Crews are continuing to patrol and extinguish hotspots, especially along the fire’s perimeter.

Red Lake 40 – North Spirit Lake First Nation

• Size: 10,975 hectares

• Status: Not under control

• Update:

  • 3 crews are focused on northern perimeter hotspot patrols.

  • Aerial scanning identified remaining heat sources.

  • 6 mm of rain helped keep fire activity low today.

Red Lake 67 – McDowell Lake First Nation

• Size: 22,357 hectares

• Status: Not under control

• Update:

  • 1 crew is patrolling the north end and demobilizing equipment.

  • Fire activity remains low, with infrared scans assisting in prioritizing mop-up operations.

Red Lake 72 / Red Lake 99 – East of Poplar Hill

• Red Lake 72: 6,173 hectares – Not under control; fire activity minimal.

• Red Lake 99: 10,474 hectares – Not under control.

  • Recent weather: Cooler temps, lighter winds, and high humidity have helped suppress fire activity.

  • Operational challenges: Heavy smoke grounded air support due to low visibility.

🚫 No Drone Zone

Flying drones near wildfires is illegal and dangerous. Unauthorized drones put the lives of pilots, firefighters, and emergency responders at risk. If you see a drone near a wildfire, report it immediately.

📞 How to Report a Wildland Fire

• North of French and Mattawa Rivers: Call 310-FIRE (3473)

• South of French or Mattawa Rivers: Call 9-1-1

Stay informed by following @ONforestfires and @ONfeudeforet on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), and visit Ontario.ca/fireupdates for the latest developments.