West Forest Fire Situation Update
West Fire Region
Tuesdy,June 8th 2010
West Fire Region
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
There were two new fires recorded in the West Fire Region by the evening of June 08.
One fire, Sioux Lookout District Fire Number 45 is located about 15 kilometres east of the northern community of Weagamow. It was reported in the late evening of June 07 and an investigation on June 08 confirmed it was an active fire. It is a 4.0 hectare fire that is burning into a lake and showing smouldering fire behaviour.
A fire was also reported to the Nipigon District on June 08. A human-caused fire along the railway, Nipigon District Fire Number 34 is about 13 kilometres east of Nipigon and is 0.2 hectares in size.
Red Lake District reports ongoing progress on Red Lake Fire Number 32 which is now classed as Under Control at 4,417 hectares in size. Infrared scanning has allowed final mop up on this fire and Type 2 crews working this fire will soon be released.
There are currently seven fires being monitored for ecosystem renewal in the region in the districts of Fort Frances, Sioux Lookout, Thunder Bay and Nipigon.
Rain and thunderstorms are forecast to occur overnight in the region. Fire managers will assess the situation on June 09 and if the hazard has been reduced the aircraft and crew alerts will be downgraded.
Lower hazard situations allow FireRanger crews to work on maintenance around the fire bases and to do training on a variety of skills including use of chainsaws, bear spray, boat handling and fire assessment reporting to name a few.
Outdoor fires such as campfires are allowed. They must be kept small, attended at all times and put dead out before leaving the site.
Daytime burning of brush or grass fires is not permitted. These fires are to be started no sooner than two hours before sunset and put out no later than two hours after sunrise. For guidelines set out under the Forest Fires Prevention Act of Ontario – visit our website at www.ontario.ca/fireprevention for details.
People living in an organized municipality or First Nations community are advised to check with their fire officials for information regarding local by-laws on burning as some bans may still be in place.
The East Fire Region has lifted a Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ) in the remainder of northeastern Ontario.
