Final Toronto Flight for Evacuees Covered by Wasaya Airways

Written by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources on 23 July 2011

*See header “Evacuation“ below for details of Headline

Photo courtesy MNR.

Current Forest Fire Situation

July 23, 2011 – 18:00 (6pm)

Provincial Overview and Emergency Management

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. We 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. Current planned evacuations are completed for FN communities experiencing severe smoke issues in the far north. On Friday, the last of the planned evacuation were completed with a total of 3591 northern residents evacuated to other communities for temporary accommodation. Ontarians who want to help with the evacuation effort are encouraged to contact the Red Cross or public assistance agencies in their community. The public can call the MNR’s Natural Resource Information Center for more information at 1-800-667-1940.

Current Fire Situation:

Cabin saved from Red Lake #84 Forest Fire. Photo courtesy MNR

There were 11 new fires in the province yesterday, four in the northwest and seven in the east of the province. There are currently 117 active fires burning over 533,000 hectares.

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.

Winds will be easterly today in the northwest and smoke issues should be reduced throughout the region. Fire teams continue to work closely with affected communities.

There remain over 2000 fire personnel engaged on Ontario fires. 645 are from other parts of Canada including British Columbia, Yukon, Saskatchewan, Alberta, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba, and Newfoundland/ Labrador. Current firefighting equipment includes 17 heavy bombers, 4 light bombers, over 100 helicopters and other

The number of fires to date this season is comparable to the 10 year average though Ontario has seen over 5 times the amount of HA burned.

Smoke conditions have improved slightly allowing fire staff to do reconnaissance and to map fires. We are using aerial infra-red to identify hot spots and fire growth.

Significant Fires:
• Red Lake 82: Located south west of the community of Kee-way-win. Fire reached the edge of the community. The community has been evacuated. Suppression efforts have been successful in preventing value losses within the community.
• Sioux Lookout 70: fire is approximately 159, 232 hectares around the Musselwhite mine. An incident management team has been assigned to the fire and protection of the site has been successful.
• Red Lake 84: Located west of Slate Falls has twice burned hydro poles affecting Slate Falls, Cat Lake, Mishkeegogamang, Pickle Lake, and Musselwhite Mine. Hydro One has restored power to these communities.
• Sioux Lookout 35: Located east of Mishkeegogamang FN community is about 100,494 hectares in size, has received aggressive fire suppression action near the community but is burning to the northeast
• Red Lake 58: is threatening Sandy Lake and caused smoke-related evacuation of community members. The fire is near the community.
• Sioux Lookout 61/64: Located southwest of Cat Lake FN community. SLK 61 is approx. 4,213 ha and SLK 64 is approx 21,501. An Incident Command Team has been established at the Slate Falls Nation Band Office and firefighters and air support have been deployed to fire

Fire Personnel:
urrently there are well over 2000 fire personnel deployed on Ontario fires. There are approximately 1500 fire fighters on the ground of which close to 645 have been brought in from B.C., Saskatchewan, Yukon, Alberta and Parks Canada. Additional overhead staff from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Aircraft Supporting Fire Suppression:
Well over 100 aircraft are servicing the fire situation today. Most of the aircraft are helicopters along with 17 water bombers from Ontario as well as Alberta, Quebec, Yukon, NFLD&LB and Saskatchewan.

Evacuation:

The MNR, Emergency Management Ontario, and other partner agencies will continue to plan and prepare in the event further evacuations are needed.

Yesterday, evacuees were brought into Thunder Bay and then moved to Toronto or Ottawa. Wasaya Airways provided transport for one of the final trips to Toronto free of charge.

EMO is making every effort to keep community residents together in host communities.
There are currently no plans for further evacuations. Additional people will be moved out of other communities as the need arises.
Hydro One has restored power to the communities of Cat Lake, Mishkeegogamang, Pickle Lake and Slate Falls.
Status of activity will depend on the fire situation in the Northwest but EMO is currently planning for 1 to 2 weeks accommodation for evacuees.

The Department of National Defense (DND) and Gov’t of Canada aircraft have completed their activities and have been released.

Emergency Area Orders in effect in the Sioux Lookout District

There are two Emergency Area Orders issued for the Sioux Lookout district to ensure pulblic safety and support fire suppression efforts with forest fires in the area.

Emergency Area Order (1)- Sioux Lookout Fire # 60 and 70.

1. All travel and use of any road and/or branches off of any road leading north from July Falls to Musselwhite Mine and Windigo Lake is prohibited unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the Sioux Lookout District of the Ministry of Natural Resources;

2. All travel and use of the water bodies and tributaries off those water bodies are prohibited unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the Sioux Lookout Districts of the Ministry of Natural Resources. The EAO is in place to ensure public safety and allow for effective fire suppression operations. This Order is in effect at 20:00 CDT on July 17, 2011 until such time as the order is revoked.

Emergency Area Order (2)-Sioux Lookout Fire #35

The coordinates of the EAO are the area surrounded by 50°54’ in the south, 51°26’ in the north, 89°18’ in the east to 90°40’ in the west.

1. All travel and use of the Albany River from a line extending from a point on the north shore of the river located at 16 U 706051E 5668342 N to a point on the south shore of the river located at 16U 705650 E 5667499 N, eastward to a point on the Albany river south of Rorabeck Lake at 16U 349580 E 5696884 N

This Order is in effect at 7:00 AM CDT on July 1, 2011 until such time as the order is revoked.

The Forest Fires Prevention Act empowers the Minister of Natural Resources to use an Emergency Area Order to take whatever action is deemed necessary to safeguard human life and private property against the treat of wildfire. Putting the order in place is a precaution that allows the ministry to move quickly to restrict access to areas being threatened.

Restricted Fire Zone in effect in portions of the Northwest Region

A Restricted Fire Zone Order is in effect for Northwestern Ontario in an area bounded by the CNR rail line, just north of Opasquia Provincial Park, west of Wabakimi Provincial Park to the Manitoba border. The order is in place to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires during a period of high fire hazard.

In a Restricted Fire Zone, all burning permits are suspended and all open fires are prohibited. Campfires may be allowed at some organized campgrounds or parks that use approved fire pits and meet certain other criteria. Campers should check with the owners or operators first. Within the Restricted Fire Zone area, people can still use portable gas stoves for cooking and warmth but the public is asked to exercise extreme caution. Ministry of Natural Resources fire staff and conservation officers will strictly enforce the restrictions on open burning. The fine for starting or tending a campfire in a Restricted Fire Zone is $500.