Fire ban not expected to be lifted anytime soon

Although colder temperatures and rain have helped to lower the fire hazards lately, the summer fire season is far from over.   

The problem is that rain is still fairly scattered across the north leaving many areas “dry and susceptible to ignition and could result in more problematic fire behaviour,” fire information officer Alison Bezubiak said.

“Scattered precipitation is often accompanied by lightning which can strike a tree or other forest fuels and ignite a fire under the forest floor. Once the weather dries up, winds can increase, and temperatures can rebound and hold over lightning fires," Bezubiak said on Friday.

During June, Northwestern Ontario was drier than normal, according to Environment Canada warning preparedness meteorologist Trudy Kidd.

“In particular, Thunder Bay typically gets about 86 millimetres of rain in the month of June, but 52 millimetres were recorded. So that's about 60 per cent of the amount of normal rain,” said Kidd.

Bezubiak said thunderstorm activity can lead to fires up to a week later, which has been a factor in the Northwest.

“The rain has helped in reducing the hazard, but it has come with quite a lot of lightning. We have been seeing quite a few new starts due to the lightning that, has been coming along with that weather,” said Bezubiak.

Currently, there are 62 active wildfires in the northwest region, with 11 not yet under control and 34 are being observed.

Fire restrictions remain in place until the active extreme fire situation passes.  

Bezubiak acknowledges that at this time there is no threat to any communities. There are a few notable fire behaviours that have the potential for spread.

Fires of note include:

• Sioux Lookout 33 is located on the western edge of Wabakimi Provincial Park. The 60,394-hectare fire is not under control. Values protection is ongoing.
• Sioux Lookout 44 is located on the west side of Lake St. Joseph. The 6,730-hectare fire is not under control. Helicopter bucket operations are providing support.
• Nipigon 13 is located west of Ogoki Lake. The 37,868-hectare fire is not under control. Values assessment and protection are ongoing and helicopter bucket operations are providing support.
• Nipigon 19 is located northwest of Ogoki Lake. The fire is now measuring 10,064 hectares and is not under control. Crews continue to establish hose lines while helicopter bucket operations continue to provide support.
• Red Lake 28 is located 40 kilometres north of Lac Seul First Nation. The 19,177-hectare fire is not under control. Crews continue to establish hose lines while helicopter bucket operations continue to provide support.

However, Sioux Lookout 53, located 3.5 kilometres east of the Bearskin Lake First Nation, is being held at 334 hectares.

“This means that with the currently committed resources and sufficient suppression action has taken place so that the fire is not likely to spread beyond the existing control boundaries,” said Bezubiak.