WHITE RIVER — The province is implementing a restricted access area as firefighters continue to battle a wildfire burning nine kilometres from White River.
The Ministry of Natural Resources on Thursday issued an implementation order, requiring a travel permit to be issued to be within the prescribed area.
The Depew River fire — referred to as Wawa 03 — has grown to 6,800 hectares. Ministry resources involved in fighting the blaze include has eight bucketing helicopters, service, and transport helicopters, a fixed-wing fire suppression aircraft, and 12 Fire Ranger crews.
Fire information officer Amy Peltonen is reporting the fire is burning with moderate intensity with occasional flare-ups.
In addition to the implementation order, the ministry has also issued a notice that the airspace around forest fires is restricted to forest fire suppression aircraft only, specifically airspace within five nautical miles, up to an altitude of 3,000 feet above ground level is restricted to forest fire suppression aircraft only.
“The implementation order outlines restrictions that will be put in place and enforced on the ground during the fire emergency. These could include road closures, restricted travel, restricted access to Crown Land, as well as restrictions on forestry and industrial operations working in or near forested areas,” Peltonen said.
The areas under the implementation order are as follows:
- 400 south of where Road 400 intersects the White River Forest Unit boundary
- Road 300 south of the intersection of Road 300 and Road 350,
- Road 500 west of the intersection of Road 500 and Road 550,
- Road 226 west of the intersection of Road 226 and Hwy. 631,
- “Mink Lake East" Road north of the intersection of "Mink Lake East" Road and Hwy. 631,
- "Mink Lake Boat Launch" Road north of the intersection of "Mink Lake Boat Launch" Road and Hwy. 631,
- Operational Road 631-02 north of the intersection of Road 631-02 and Hwy. 631,
- Operational Road 631-01 (aka. Tower Road) north of the intersection of Road 631-01 and Hwy. 631,
- Road 100 north of the intersection of Road 100 and Picnic Lake Road, and
- North Reagan Road north of the intersection of North Reagan Road and Road 50.
The ministry has set up a command centre in the White River Arena to coordinate suppression tactics in the area.
White River Mayor Tara Anderson Hart said the ministry has indicated the fire is not posing a direct threat to the community.
“They have been installing a sprinkler system around the community through most of the day. I do believe they are going to do the entire community from what they told us,” Hart told CFNO Radio.
The other fire in the White River area, located south of Highway 17 and south of Crocker’s Lake about five kilometees west of White River, is holding 105 hectares in size, but is still considered to be not under control.
With files from Al Cresswell, CFNO Radio
