Northwest Region wildfire update for May 18, 2026: no new fires reported by early evening, five active fires remain, including Dryden 11 and Fort Frances area fire
THUNDER BAY – WILDFIRE UPDATE – Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services reports that no new wildland fires had been confirmed in the Northwest Region by the early evening of May 18, 2026.
At the time of this report, there are five active wildland fires burning in the Northwest Region. Of those fires, one is not under control, one is being held, and three are under control. Over the past 24 hours, four fires have been declared out.
One new fire was confirmed during the evening of May 17 after the previous update. Thunder Bay 11 (THU011) was located near Sunshine Creek Road, about 6.6 kilometres northwest of Sistonen’s Corners. The fire measured 0.4 hectares and has since been called out.
Fires of Note
Dryden 11 — DRY011
Dryden 11 is located north of Ignace on the east side of Sandbar Lake.
The fire remains at 150.3 hectares and is classified as not under control. FireRanger crews continue to make progress on suppression efforts.
Fort Frances 4 — FOR004
Fort Frances 4 is located south of Highway 11 near Factor Lake.
The fire is now under control at 10.0 hectares. FireRanger crews continue to make progress with suppression efforts.
An implementation order remains in effect around Fort Frances 4 in the Dryden–Fort Frances–Atikokan District. The order is in place to support public safety and allow effective fire suppression work to continue.
Fort Frances 5 — FOR005
Fort Frances 5 is located near the southeast side of Little Turtle Lake near Mine Centre.
The fire is currently being held at 14.9 hectares. FireRanger crews continue to make progress with suppression efforts.
An implementation order also remains in effect around Fort Frances 5 in the Dryden–Fort Frances–Atikokan District. The order is intended to help protect public safety and support ongoing firefighting operations.
Fort Frances 7 — FOR007
Fort Frances 7 is located near Naicatchewenin, also known as Northwest Bay First Nation.
The fire has been remapped to 9.3 hectares and is now under control. FireRanger crews continue to make good progress while working alongside the local fire team.
Fort Frances 8 — FOR008
Fort Frances 8 is located west of the community in Lac La Croix First Nation, on the west side of the Namakan River.
The fire is 8.6 hectares and is now under control. FireRanger crews continue to make good progress with suppression efforts.
Fire Danger Rating
The current forest fire danger rating for the Northwest Region is available through Ontario’s interactive fire map. The map uses information from more than 130 weather stations across Ontario’s Fire Region and is updated throughout the day as weather conditions change.
Blank areas on the map indicate that there is currently no data available for that Ministry of Natural Resources district.
Follow Ontario’s Outdoor Fire Rules
Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services reminds the public that Ontario’s legislated fire season runs from April 1 to October 31.
Anyone disposing of yard waste or woody debris is encouraged to use alternatives such as composting or a local landfill. If burning is necessary, residents must follow Ontario’s outdoor burning rules and use extreme caution.
Outdoor fires must be started no sooner than two hours before sunset and fully extinguished no later than two hours after sunrise. Anyone burning must have enough tools and water on site to keep the fire contained.
Residents inside municipal boundaries should also check with their local fire department before burning, as local restrictions, permits, or fire bans may apply.
Report a Wildland Fire
To report a wildland fire north of the French and Mattawa rivers, call 310-FIRE / 310-3473.
To report a wildland fire south of the French or Mattawa rivers, call 911.
For prevention tips and current fire information, follow @ONforestfires and @ONfeudeforet on Facebook, Instagram, and X, or visit Ontario.ca/FireUpdates.
