Restricted Fire Zone implemented, fire crews battle forest fire north of Cat Lake First Nation

Tim Brody - Editor

Due to the extreme forest fire hazard, a Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ) was declared by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry effective Thursday June 1 at 12:01 am local time for the Districts of Kenora, Red Lake/Sioux Lookout, Dryden/Fort Frances/Atikokan, Thunder Bay/Ignace, the northwest portion of the Far North, and portions of Nipigon/Geraldton District. 
While the RFZ remains in effect, no open air burning, including campfires, is permitted within the boundaries of the Restricted Fire Zone.  Portable gas or propane stoves may be used for cooking and warmth BUT must be handled with extreme caution.  All burning permits are suspended. 
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) shared in their June 4 evening report that at that time there were 18 active fires in the Northwest Region. A total of 11 fires not under control, six fires being held and one fire being observed. Nine fires were declared ‘out’ by initial attack crews within the past 24 hours of the AFFES’ June 4 evening report.
AFFES shared in their June 4 evening report that ten new fires were confirmed in the Northwest Region by that evening. 

• Thunder Bay 9 is located near Smoothrock Lake in Wabakimi Provincial Park, approximately 42 kilometres northwest of Armstrong. The 6.5 hectare fire is not under control.
  
• Red Lake 15 (0.1 hectares) and Red Lake 16 (0.1 hectares) are located near the Nungesser River, approximately 43 kilometres north of Red Lake. Red 15 is not under control and Red 16 is out.
  
• Nipigon 5 is located near Klersy Lake, approximately 73 kilometres southwest of Geraldton. The 0.1 hectare fire is being held.
  
• Red Lake 17 is located near Costello Lake, approximately 100 kilometres east of Red Lake. The 1.0 hectare fire is being held.
  
• Red Lake 18 is located near the remote McInnes Lake, approximately 36 kilometres east of Poplar Hill (Obazaadiikaang) First Nation. The 0.2 hectare fire is not under control.
  
• Red Lake 19 is located west of Rathouse Lake, approximately 32 kilometres northwest of Red Lake. The 0.1 hectare fire is not under control.
  
• Red Lake 20 is located near Mamakwash Lake, approximately 71 km east of Pikangikum. The fire is not under control at 2.5 hectares.
  
• Nipigon 7 is located south of Hwy. 11, approximately 32 kilometres east of Longlac. The 1.0 hectare fire is not under control.
  
• Kenora 18 is located near Pond Lake, approximately 3 kilometres south of Redditt. The 0.5 hectare fire is not under control.

AFFES shared that two additional fires were discovered during the evening hours of June 3, following the previous day’s update:

• Sioux Lookout 15 was confirmed in the evening hours of June 3 approximately 22 kilometres north/northwest of Giishkimanisiiwaaboong (Kingfisher) First Nation. The 0.5 hectare fire is being held.
  
• Kenora 17 was confirmed in the evening hours of June 3, north of Big Canon Lake, approximately 16 kilometres southeast of Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows) First Nation. The 1.7 hectare fire is not under control. 
  

AFFES shared in their June 4 evening update, that at that time, a large forest fire, Sioux Lookout 7, remained at 9,285 hectares and was not under control at that time. “The fire is located north of the remote First Nation of Cat Lake. There are currently 12 fire crews and 3 helicopters assigned to this fire. The fire is burning away from the community. Crews continue to establish hose lines along the southern perimeter of the fire nearest to the community with support from bucketing helicopters.”
AFFES noted at the time that the wildland fire hazard in the region, “is a patchwork of moderate to high hazard zones with areas of low hazard where localized rain has fallen across the northwest region.”
For a closer look at fire hazard conditions in the area, people can visit the Ministry’s interactive map at https://www.lioapplications.lrc.gov.on.ca/ForestFireInformationMap/index.html?viewer=FFIM.FFIM