MNR Update – Wawa Fire 18
To view photos/videos from this fire visit www.OntarioNewsNorth.com belowo is the most recent update received from the Ministry of Natural Resources, May 29th, 2010.
Ministry of Natural Resources Update on Wawa Fire #18
Wawa Fire #18 is located approx. 30 km east of the Town of Hawk Junction and 8 km east of the Potholes Conservation Reserve. There are no evacuation orders planned at this time. The fire was reported Thursday, May 27, and has grown to an estimated 2,300 hectares approximately 40 kilometres east of Wawa near the junction of Highway 101 and 651 (to Missanabie). Shoals Provincial Park is closed at this time. Highway 101 is open and Ontario Provincial Police are on site to monitor the situation.
There are three Type 1 crews on the fire with five crews from the West Fire Region available to assist on Saturday. Three medium and one light helicopter have been assigned to the fire with air tanker support for the morning. A Type-1 Incident Management Team has been assigned to this fire. MNR’s priority is to suppress the fire and enable Hydro One power line crews to repair the damaged transmission lines to restore power to the town of Chapleau. The fire did not increase significantly in size on May 28.
Weather for the weekend is predicted as mainly sunny with some cloudy periods on Saturday. Winds are expected out of the northwest 20 km/h becoming light late this evening with temperatures from 11 to 13 degrees Celsius. Saturday day time temperatures will reach 25 degrees Celsius. The fire hazard is currently high to extreme in the East Fire Region.
An Emergency Area Order has been implemented due to an active forest fire burning in the Wawa District. The order is in effect as of 8 a.m. Saturday, May 29, 2010, and will remain in effect until such time as conditions improve. An Emergency Area Order is used when a forest fire situation warrants the use of special measures to ensure public safety, help with an evacuation and to ensure effective forest fire management.
A Restricted Fire Zone continues to be in effect in northeastern Ontario. Residents and travellers through the region are reminded that all burning permits are suspended and all open air burning, including campfires, is prohibited. Conservation Officers are patrolling recreation areas and will be strictly enforcing the Restricted Fire Zone.
To report a forest fire, please call 310-FIRE (3473). For more information on Wawa fire #18, contact the Wawa District office at 1-705-856-2396
