East & West Fire Updates & MNR Co-operators Report

Written by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources on 07 June 2010

Please scroll down for the JUNE 8TH, 2010 North East & West Fire Region Reports.

WAWA MNR CO-OPERATORS FOREST FIRE INFORMATION

Valid: June 8th, 2010

Geraldton – Longlac – Caramat – Manitouwadge – Hornepayne – Dubreuilville

Today..Sunny. High 20. UV index 7 or high.

 

Tonight..Clear. Low plus 3 with risk of frost.

 

Tuesday..Sunny. Becoming a mix of sun and cloud late in the morning.

Wind becoming south 20 km/h late in the day. High 23.

Nipigon – Marathon – Superior North – Wawa – White River – Pukaskwa

Today..Sunny with cloudy periods. High 16. UV index 7 or high.

Tonight..Clear. Low plus 2 with risk of frost.

Tuesday..Sunny. High 18.

SRO TODAY: Bill Robinson - 705 856 4752

COMMENTS: Please check the fuel groups for your areas of operations. Wawa 18 – BHE – 2300ha.

BE ADVISED THAT A RESTRICTED FIRE ZONE IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA REPRESENTED BY THE WEATHER STATIONS LISTED ABOVE, AND THE ENTIRE EAST FIRE REGION, NO OPEN OUTDOOR FIRES ARE ALLOWED.

To report a fire, call

310 – FIRE

East Fire Region Report

June 7, 2010

The Ministry of Natural Resources has lifted a Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ) that remained in two zones of north eastern Ontario. The RFZ ends as of Monday June 7 at 1800.The RFZ had been declared for Zones 20 and 21- Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and North Bay areas – in the East Fire Region on June 4 due to extreme fire hazard conditions at that time.

Campfires will be allowed for cooking and warmth in all areas of northeastern Ontario once the restrictions have been lifted. However, some municipalities may impose their own burning restrictions.

If you light a campfire ensure it is tended with extreme care. Keep your campfires small, never leave them unattended and ensure they are completely extinguished before leaving.

The Ministry of Natural Resources extends appreciation to residents and visitors for compliance during this period of escalated fire activity and reminds everyone that forest fire prevention is everybody’s responsibility.

There were no new fires reported on June 6. One new fire has been confirmed for June 7. The fire was reported this morning in the Chapleau district near Biscotasi. It is 0.1 hectares in size and the Helitack crew anticipates no problems with the fire.

The fire hazard is expected to be moderate across the East Fire Region for June 8.

Suppression efforts on Wawa 18 continue and good progress is being made on the fire. As of June 4, the fire is classified as being held. Crews are busy actioning hotspots that have been located using infrared scanning.

An Emergency Area Order remains in effect for the area surrounding Wawa 18. Under the order, MNR is prohibiting travel on the following roads: Ripple Lake Road and Bluff Lake Road.

Residents are reminded that if found responsible for a forest fire, they can be charged under the Forest Fires Prevention Act and/or be liable for the costs of suppressing the fire. This cost can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Be FireSmart, visit ontario.ca/fireprevention for more information on how to prevent forest fires.

310-FIRE (3473) is the new, toll-free emergency forest fire reporting phone number across northern Ontario. The number will operate north of the French and Mattawa Rivers.

West Fire Region

June 07, 2010

There were no new fires reported in the West Fire Region by the evening of June 07.

Red Lake District Fire Number 32, located northeast of the community of Pikangikum is listed as Being Held at 4,417 hectares in size. This lightning-caused fire showed one hotspot during infrared scanning. Firefighting and Incident Management Team resources are being demobilized from this fire as FireRangers and Type 2 crews continue digging up and dousing the hot spots.

Red Lake District Fire Number 26, located about 110 kilometres east of Red Lake has been Under Control for a number of days now at 1,077 hectares in size. Infrared scanning continues on this fire as well to ensure that no hidden hot spots remain.

Managed fires continue to be monitored in the districts of Fort Frances (3 in Quetico Provincial Park), Nipigon (1 in the Far North), Sioux Lookout (2 in the Far North) and Thunder Bay (1 in Wabakimi Provincial Park). These fires are beneficial for renewing ecosystems and restoring habitats. One additional fire that was being monitored on an island on Eagle Lake in the Dryden District has been declared out.

Stormy weather continues in the forecast with more rain and thunderstorms expected in the region through the week. Despite recent rainfall, the fire hazard was high across the north on June 07 and low to moderate through the rest of the region.

Outdoor fires are allowed under the Forest Fires Prevention Act of Ontario (FFPA), provided people follow the proper outdoor burning guidelines. www.ontario.ca/fireprevention”.

There is no day burning of brush or grass fires allowed. Such fires can be burned in the evening, when they are set no sooner than two hours before sunset and put out no later than two hours after sunrise.

Campfires must be attended by a responsible person at all times and put dead out before leaving the site.

If you live in an organized municipality or First Nations community, check with your fire service for local by-laws on burning.