The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry have provided an update on the Northern Ontario forest fire situation Friday afternoon. 

It says there are still 60 active forest fires going on, 22 are listed as not under control, and says there were 7 new fires that started Thursday.   

In Temagami, the MNRF says the evacuation order for the area has been downgraded to an evacuation alert, which means residents are able to return home, but may be forced to leave again at any time.

Temagami First Nation has postponed its annual traditional pow wow for Saturday and Sunday because of the forest fire situation.

 

The Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services Forest Fire Situation Update for the Northeast Fire Region for Friday, July 13, 2017 at 13:21, in its entirety:

We are receiving a very high volume of media calls seeking information about the fire situation in the Northeast. At this time, we will be providing media with two updates daily about the fire situation. One late morning, and one in the evening. Below is an update for this morning.

On the morning of Friday, July 13, there are 60 active forest fires in the Northeast region. Of these, 22 are not yet under control, while 38 are either being held, under control or being observed.

There were 7 new starts in the Northeast Region yesterday. 

Relative humidity is higher in the region this morning; this is effectively reducing the fire activity and allowing our crews to make good progress. Some precipitation is falling in parts of the northeast early this afternoon, but we’re forecasting scattered and minimal precipitation today. Although this may help to bring short-term relief to the fire hazard in some localised areas, it is expected to rebound quickly once the precipitation has subsided. There is a current risk of thunderstorms for today, which could bring more lightning fires. Since June 29th, which was the Friday before the Canada Day long weekend, we have recorded over 165,000 lightning strikes across the Ontario. We expect to continue to find several new starts as a result over the coming week

Values protection continue to work in Speight Township today as a precautionary measure. This is in the area of fire North Bay 72 which originated in Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park and has now exited the park boundary towards the northeast. This is currently the largest fire burning in the Northeast Region. Crews are working along the river system from Mountain Lake south through Speight today.

Timmins 12, which is located approximately 25 km east of Nighthawk Lake, now covers 77.3 hectares. Four CL415 waterbombers and 4 fire crews were working last night to suppress this fire. Today, heavy equipment is making progress while a belly-tanker helicopter is assisting 6 crews on the ground.

Last evening, AFFES received a call for assistance from the Municipality of Central Frontenac for fire Peterborough 3. Three Twin Otters and a birddog aircraft were dispatched but were not required. A ground crew is assisting municipal firefighters this morning.

Fire crews are making good progress on North Bay 69, which is located southwest of the Temagami marina. Heavy helicopters were working on the fire yesterday afternoon, bucketing water onto the fire.

North Bay 55 also had aerial fire suppression support in the form of heavy helicopters yesterday. It is located south of Temagami, east of Hwy 11 and covers 25 hectares.

Incident Management Teams

Incident Management Teams (IMTs) have mobilized in the region and are taking over priority fires in 3 areas:

  • River Valley Cluster
  • Lake Temagami Cluster
  • Lady Evelyn Cluster

Resources from Out of Province

The following forest firefighting crews are currently assisting Ontario FireRangers and type 2 contract crews:

  • Nova Scotia has supplied five 4 person crews
  • Prince Edward Island has supplied a 4 person crew
  • Newfoundland has supplied a 4 person crew
  • British-Columbia has supplied twenty 3 person crews
  • Northwest Territories has supplied six 4 person crews
  • Saskatchewan has supplied two support staff
  • Alberta has supplied fourteen 4 person crews, 8 support staff and a 19 person Incident Management Team

The following equipment is in Ontario, helping with the forest fire situation:

  • CL415 water bombers and T802 Fire Boss amphibian equipment from Alberta and Saskatchewan are currently supporting Ontario’s fire suppression operations.

SMOKE CONCERNS

  • Many Ontario residents have been reporting smoke drift in their communities, smoky conditions are expected to continue until weather patterns change.
  • AFFES is reminding the public that if they do see flames or smoke, please report it, and stay away from the area in the interest of public safety.
  • If you have questions or concerns about smoke and your health, please contact Tele Health Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.

Temagami area information

The MNRF has been advised by the Municipality of Temagami that the Mandatory Evacuation Orders from Temagami Shores, at the south edge of the town of Temagami, to Jessie Lake including Bell Island on Lake Temagami have been downgraded to an Evacuation Alert. Residents may return home however, must remain on alert as they can be asked to leave again at any time based on the fire situation. Other Evacuation Alerts remain in place.

Travel Restrictions

MNRF issued an Emergency Area Order (EAO) for parts of the North Bay District due to active fires around Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater, Lake Temagami and the North Bay District.

The restrictions include:

  • All travel and use of McLaren’s Road, Gibbons Road, Baie-Jeanne Road, South Pardo Road, St. Joseph’s Road including George Gordon and Iron Lake Road, Cooke Lake Road, Beauty Lake Road, Roadhouse Tower Road, Mountain Lake Road, Klock Road, Goulard Road starting at Lower Goose Falls is restricted as well as Red Squirrel Lake Road beyond the Barmac Gate is prohibited unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the North Bay District of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. (See map at Ontario.ca/forestfire)
  • All modes of travel/access into closed backcountry parks (Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater, Obabika River, Makobe-Grays River, Solace and Sturgeon River Provincial Parks) and all Crown lands as outlined in the identified area on the Implementation Order map is prohibited.
  • All use and occupation of Crown land or within 500 metres of the described closed roads on the map.

Please visit Ontario.ca/forestfire as this information is being updated regularly.

For information about these travel restrictions: 705-475-5546 

For inquiries by members of the public contact: 705-564-6165

For inquiries on highway closures: Call 5-1-1

FIRE NUMBERS AND ONLINE INFORMATION:

  • To report a forest fire located north of the French and Mattawa rivers, please dial 310-FIRE (3473)
  • To report a forest fire located south of the French or Mattawa rivers, please dial 911.
  • Follow us on Twitter: in English @ONForestFires or in French @ONFeuDeForêt
  • For up to date information on current fires in the province or to check the forest fire hazard in your area, visit Ontario.ca/forestfire
  • For guidelines on safe outdoor fire management ontario.ca/fireprevention

Report prepared by Isabelle Chenard