Forest Fire Season 2012

Superior National Forest Fires

GRAND MARAIS, MN --- September 15, 2012 ---- In light of continued dry and windy conditions, the Forest Service has implemented campfire restrictions in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) until further notice. CAMPFIRES ARE ALLOWED ONLY BETWEEN 7PM AND MIDNIGHT IN THE BWCAW. Please be very careful with campfires!

Special Notifications: Various closures are in effect due to the Parley Fire, the Hoist Bay Fire, and the Canadian Emerald Fire near Knife Lake. Please see the details below. Public Safety crews are posting these areas. Also, fire restrictions remain in effect in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Campfires are allowed only between 7 p.m. and midnight.

NOTE: There was very little change, overall, with the small wildfires on the Superior National Forest. Public safety crews are notifying people in the Wilderness. Wind direction is expected to shift to northwest Sunday and push smoke from these fires towards populated areas.  read more....>

Restricted Fire Zone Northeasterm Ontario

THUNDER BAY, ON   -----  July 15, 2012 ----- A Restricted Fire Zone Order has been declared for Northeasterm Ontario in an area north of the French and Mattawa rivers, east to the Quebec border, and then to the western boundary of the Northeast Region.  The order is in place to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires during a period of high fire hazard.

Effective 12:01 a.m. on Friday July 13, 2012, a Restricted Fire Zone Order is in place and will remain in effect until conditions improve.  The fire hazard is high to extreme.  The outlook for the next several days calls for continuing hot weather and dry conditions. Active burning is expected to take place until significant rainfall occurs.   read more.....>

13 new forest fires Northwest Region

THUNDER BAY, ON  - July 17, 2012  ----   The day started early for FireRangers with the first confirmed fire being recorded at 8:53am central. Since then it has been non-stop across the region dealing with new fire starts and active fires. Every district in northwestern Ontario had new fires start by the evening of July 14, 2012.

There were 13 new forest fires confirmed in the Northwest Region by the time this report was prepared July 14 and more reports were coming in. On July 13, there were a total of 21 new confirmed fires.

The Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services program would like to thank the pubic for their ongoing use of 310-FIRE (3473) the forest fire reporting hotline for Ontario. The quick response to new fires in northwestern Ontario is due in part of the proper use of this emergency hotline.

Precipitation is in the forecast in the form of isolated thunderstorms. A concern remains that these thunderstorms will bring lightning. All of northwestern Ontario is susceptible to lightning strikes that could potential ignite new fires. Until the rain in recorded in the metre, the Ontario Fire Program will continue to ramp up response and suppression efforts.    read more....>

Minister Meets with FireRangers as Fire Season Starts

DRYDEN, ON  ---  April 12, 2012  --- Minister of Natural Resources Michael Gravelle was in Dryden on Tuesday, April 10 to visit the Northwest Region Forest Fire Management Centre as the forest fire season in the province officially begins.

Gravelle met with some of the highly-trained FireRangers and support staff who will fight forest fires across the North between April and October.

 “We have a remarkable emergency management team here, protecting people and property across the region,” he said. “These folks work tirelessly in conditions most of us can barely imagine. And even last year, which was one of the worst fire seasons in half a century, they also lent their support to other provinces.”


Minister exiting a CL-415 water bomber with Carl Hansson, Senior Pilot

Staff at the Northwest Region Forest Fire Management Centre plan strategy and bring together information on forest fires such as the current and forecasted weather conditions and predicted fire behaviour. They also position aircraft, personnel and equipment to meet the fire activity.   read more....>


Forest Fire Season 2011

Fires Prohibited Road Closurers on the Superior National Forest

ELY, MN ---   September 17, 2011  ---   Despite cold temperatures and frost, fire danger remains high to very high in the state. 
To reduce the potential for new fire starts, the USDA Forest Service and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have restricted the use of campfires and open fires in specified areas. 

On the Superior National Forest, as of Friday, September 16, 2011, it is prohibited to build, maintain, or use a fire or campfire, including charcoal fires, wood-burning camp stoves, and charcoal grills anywhere on national forest lands within the boundaries of the Superior National Forest, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  Use of pressurized liquid gas stoves is allowed.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has issued restrictions on the use of campfires and open fires on private or state-owned lands within the Superior National Forest administrative boundaries, no open burning is allowed including burn barrels, campfires and recreational fires, except that charcoal fires are allowed in a grill or other receptacle designed for such use and associated with a residence, and pressurized gas stoves may be used but must be attended at all times. In addition, no burning permits will be issued, and no use of fireworks is allowed.  Minnesota Parks and Trails facilities that are included in these restrictions are Judge Magney, Cascade River and Temperance River State Parks, Hinsdale Island on Lake Vermilion, Sullivan Lake Campground north of Two Harbors, and any other forest campgrounds, waysides and day use areas within the Superior National Forest boundary.  

read more....>

Forest Service to Restrict Campfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Ely, MN ---   September 11, 2011  ----  In light of continued unseasonably dry, warm conditions the Forest Service is restricting campfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).

Beginning September 12, 2011 until further notice, campfires will only be allowed between 6:00 pm and midnight at designated campsites within firegrates in the BWCAW.  Use of gas and propane stoves are permitted anytime.  

This restriction includes the entire BWCAW.  

All visitors to the Superior National Forest and surrounding area are urged to take care with the use of fire where permitted. Be sure that campfires are doused thoroughly until cold to the touch    read more....>

Fire Activity Increases on Pagami Creek Fire Prompting Temporary Closures

Ely, MN ---  September 10, 2011  --- Unseasonably dry, warm conditions and low relative humidities yesterday allowed the Pagami Creek Fire to burn actively south of the Lakes One and Two area. The burn out operation conducted last weekend was successful in reducing the threat of the fire escaping the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and threatening the Fernberg corridor to the north.

To provide for public safety the Superior National Forest is temporarily closing the following:

        As a precautionary measure Lakes Two and Three will be closed. Visitors currently in that area will be contacted by public safety crews. Alternatives include returning to Lake One for those leaving the area before Monday. Visitors who will be in the Wilderness beyond Monday are asked to head east into Lake Four or beyond. People intending to visit Lake One are encouraged to find other plans or paddle on the Kawishiwi River.  read more.....>

 Ely, MN ----  Septembr 5, 2011  ---  The burn out operation on the Pagami Creek Fire will continue today. Operations of this nature are weather dependent and damp conditions Sunday morning delayed the ignition time. The burn out is part of the long-term plan for preventing the fire from escaping the boundary of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) Lake Supeiror National Forest and threatening public safety and private properties to the north.

Fire crews completed the portion of the burn out closest to the portages between Lakes One and Two yesterday. Three helicopters were used to complete the aerial ignition. Public Safety crews escorted paddlers across the portages throughout the operation to ensure their safety.  read more.....>

 Burn Out Operation Part of Management Plan for Pagami Creek Fire

Ely, MN -  September 1, 2011  ----  The Pagami Creek Fire continues to burn in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) despite damp conditions. While it might be tempting to expect that the fire could soon be “out”, the Pagami Creek Fire could burn until snowfall. This presents benefits and challenges for fire managers.

Forest fires can provide many benefits – recycling nutrients in the soil, preserving habitat for native species and removing unwanted build-up of vegetative fuels. Wildfires can also present many challenges by threatening public safety and destroying homes and properties within the wildland/urban interface.   read more.....>

Six new fires by the evening of July 29

Precipitation kept fire behaviour low on many fires

THUNDER BAY, ON  ---  July 30, 2011  --- There were six new fires by the evening of July 29 in the Northwest Region with two in the Kenora District, three in the Red Lake District and one in the Thunder Bay District.

Over the last several days, there have been fewer fire starts and reduced activity on many fires burning across Northwestern Ontario. The weather forecast continues to support continued progress in fire suppression activities and the planned return of evacuated residents to their communities. However, there is a lot of hard work with long days ahead before all of the fires are under control or out.  Even with the downturn in the weather, fires such as Red Lake District 84 require aggressive air attack to maintain their established fire lines.

This is a map of the active fires in the Northwest Region on July 29 with the perimeters of the larger fires and the NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) over the South Bay Complex - including Red Lake Fire 84 Six new fires by the evening of July 29 read more....>

No further evacuations are planned at this time

THUNDER BAY, ON ---  July 23, 2011  ---   The Forest Fire Danger Rating for most of Northwestern Ontario is Moderate  (Carry out any forest activities with caution).  Both Toronto and Thunder Bay have been serving as transportation hubs with First Nations residents being flown to Thunder Bay and then Toronto, and finally onwards to their host communities. Yesterday morning, the final three flights arrived in Toronto from Thunder Bay. These residents were transported by bus to their host community of Smiths Falls.

Evacuation operations in the past few days have brought 3,591 people to safety. All required evacuations are now complete. No further evacuations are planned at this time. We are constantly re-assessing the need for future evacuations with First Nations Leadership. All necessary resources are available and on standby should evacuations need to be resumed.  Photo Through the strategic and effective placement of values protection measures, many structures have bee saved.  read more....>

 Forest fire situation remains extreme in NWO

THUNDER BAY, ON   ----  July 18, 2011  ---  The forest fire situation in the Northwest Region of Ontario  remains extreme with 96 active fires, burning an area of about 254,000 hectares. Smoky conditions from these fires have prompted a number of Stage 1 evacuations of the elderly, people with health issues and young children. Satellite images show smoke aloft in a band from Manitoba directly eastward to mid Quebec and south as far as New Brunswick.

Safety for the public and the Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Servcies personnel is the top prioirty as the forest fire situation worsens. Extreme fire behaviour has forced firefighters to pull back to safe locations a number of times. Values protection remains the focus. There is little relief in the forecast as winds are forecast to challenge the situation even further by July 19.  read more.....>

 Forest Fire Smoke expected  Kenora, Winnipeg and Thunder Bay areas

THUNDER BAY, ON  ---  July 17, 2011  ---  Ontario has already seen over twice the average amount of hectares burned annually in the province.

More than 2,000 Ontario firefighters and support crew workers are on the ground, and approximately 360 firefighters have been sent from British Columbia as support.

There is more than 40 aircraft involved in trying to douse the flames, including 14 waterbombers, some from Quebec and Alberta, and 13 initial attack helicopters.

There have been a total of 474 forest fires to date this season, according to the Ministry and more than 145,000 hectares of forest have burned to date.

Ontario has already seen over twice the average amount of hectares burned annually in the province.

Deb MacLean Information Officer, Northwest Regional Forest Fire Centre in Dryden said "Unfortunately, it's not looking like there's much relief," There is a little a small amount  of rain forecasted for the southern portion of our region.  It is north of Highway 11 - 17 where the major fires are. read more....>

 BC Firefighters Coming to NWO to Help

THUNDER BAY, ON ----  July 11, 2011  ---  To assist fire suppression in the Northwest Region, 100 initial attack firefighters from British Columbia will arrive July 12 as well as a tanker group (two waterbombers and a Birddog aircraft) from Quebec expected July 11 that joins another Quebec tanker group that arrived last week. Resource import is standard operating procedure when fire conditions reach predetermined levels and are part of a national mutual aid arrangement. Ontario had crews in Alberta early this season and for the previous two seasons in British Columbia as part of the support agreement.

Red Lake Fire Management Supervisor Randy Crampton assesses the fire
situation with Randy Opaski.

New Fires
There were two new fires by early evening on July 11 with one in the Red Lake District and two in the Thunder Bay District.
There were 17 new fires by day’s end on July 10 with one in the Dryden District, four in the Nipigon District, five in the Red Lake District and seven in the Sioux Lookout District.   read more....>

 Main Hydro line to Pickle Cat Lake, Slate Falls and Musselwhite Mines out

THUNDER BAY, ON   ----   July  10, 2011   ---    A late afternoon forest fire south of Margaret Lake, approximatly 50km's south west of Cat Lake in the Red Lake district has burned a section of the main Hydro line to Pickle lake. Communities of Pickle Lake, Cat Lake, Slate Falls and Musselwhite Mines are without power at time of this report. Red Lake-84

Red Lake District                                                                       
Red Lake 26 - Not under control - 121.0 hectares -  Deer Lake Complex 
Red Lake 27 - Not under control - 225.4 hectares - Deer Lake Complex
Red Lake 55 - Not under control - 201.0 hectares - Northwest of the community of North Spirit Lake
Red Lake 57 - Not under control - 120.8 hectares - Southwest of the community of Sandy Lake 
Red Lake 84 - Not under control-30 hectares-Southwest of Cat Lake  read more.....>

Deer Lake residens airlifted to Greenstone

THUNDER BAY, ON  --- July 7, 2011  ---  Officials with Emergency Management Ontario  are working with First Nation leadership, provincial ministries and the Canadian Forces to help evacuate residents of Deer Lake.

A forest fire, about 350 hectares in size, is burning about 3.5 kilometres away from the remote community and is sending smoke into the area.

About 480 people are expected to be immediately airlifted by the Canadian Forces to Greenstone.

New Fires- Lightning Fires continue to keep the Northwest Region Fire Response centre busy in responding to numerous reports of multiple forest fires in areas of a recent thunderstorm sweeping across the region. Fourteen new fires were found today, eleven in the Red Lake district, two in the Sioux Lookout district and one in the Thunder Bay district.  read more....>

Forest Fire Report June 25

THUNDER BAY, ON   ----   June 25, 2011  --  New Fires- There was one new fire reported today in the Red Lake District about 50km’s south west of Cat Lake is currently being actioned by FireRangers and Air attack. It is not under control at 1.5 hectares in size.

Ongoing Fires-  There is 11 active fires currently burning in the Northwest Region. (5) of which are being monitored, (5) fires are listed as Under Control, and (2) fires that are Not Under Control. The two fires that are not under control are located in the Red Lake and Sioux Lookout Districts.

Fires of Note- SLK-035 a lightning caused fire is listed as Not Under Control at 47,494 hectares with modified suppression on the western flank and burn out operations underway at south end of fire.  read more....>

Thunder Bay District Fire Number 22

THUNDER BAY, ON ---  May, 22, 2011 --- There were no new fires reported in the Northwest Region by the early evening of May 22. 
 
There are currently three active fires in the Northwest Region. Dryden District Fire Number 005 and Thunder Bay District Fires 19 and 22.
 
Thunder Bay Fire Number 22, which started on the afternoon of May 19 about 38 kilometres east of Savant Lake in Wabakimi Provincial Park is classed as not under control at 1,450 hectares in size.  

A CL-415 heavy waterbomber was part of an aggressive air
and ground attack on Thunder Bay 22 on May 19.  read more....>

THUNDER BAY, ON ---  July 15, 2011  ---  The Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services program responded to the spread of Sioux Lookout Fire Number 70, located about 25 kilometres southwest of the Musselwhite Mine

Goldcorp Inc. has removed most of its 380 employees from the Musselwhite mine in northwestern Ontario due Sioux Lookout Fire Number 70 southwest of the mine. It is about nine kilometres west of the road into the mine.

Power to the mine is also disrupted as the result of Red Lake District Fire Number 84, located about 50 kilometres northeast of Ear Falls which burned a Hydro One power line. A crew of 50 employees will be at the site to maintain and monitor operations and co-ordinate with firefighters. http://www.goldcorp.com/ return of Deer Lake residents to their community is expected to be complete by July 16.

FireRanger and aerial operations efforts allowed access by Hydro One crews for repairs to get underway to a power transmission line downed by Red Lake 84 about 50 kilometres northeast of Ear Falls, with restoration expected July 18.  read more.....>

THUNDER BAY, ON  --   July 23, 2011  ---   MNR have fire crews in communities where fire is in close proximity and they have installed sprinkler and other protection systems to protect the structures and properties in those communities,

Cloud, high humidity and precipitation kept fire behaviour low on many fires which will continue over the weekend in the NWR.    Additional lightning fires may be discovered in some areas once conditions become dry again.Central Ontario will continue to have a hazard and will see new lightning and human caused fires for the next several days.  read more....>