There have been 87 active wildfires reported in northwestern Ontario, as per the latest update from Ontario’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) released on Friday night. Among them, 10 wildfires are not contained, six are being held, eight are under control, and the remaining are under observation.
Two new fires were identified in the northwest region on Friday evening. Nipigon 99 (NIP099) is situated east of Pays Plat, around 3 kilometers northeast of Highway 17 and 5.5 kilometers north of Rossport. This fire spans 0.1 hectares and is uncontained. Another fire, Nipigon 100 (NIP100), is approximately 10.5 kilometers north of Highway 17 in Pays Plat and 2 kilometers northeast of West Fox Lake, covering 0.1 hectares and also not under control.
While most of northwestern Ontario has low to moderate forest fire hazards, there are notable high-risk zones in the southwestern areas, including throughout the Thunder Bay and Kenora districts.
Among the significant fires in the region is the Rinker Complex, consisting of Thunder Bay 36, Dryden 34, and Dryden 35, collectively one of the largest firefighting operations. These fires, totaling 301,240 hectares, 45,800 hectares, and 30,201 hectares respectively, are still uncontained. Evacuation orders remain in place for affected areas.
In the Atikokan Cluster, which includes Fort Frances 13, 14, and 15, measuring 25,279 hectares, 51,768 hectares, and 42,273 hectares respectively, Fort Frances 14 and 15 are currently listed as not under control. Smoke levels increased on Friday due to weather conditions and smoke from distant fires.
Approximately 829 individuals are still displaced due to the wildfires in Ontario, with around 2,000 evacuees from northwestern Ontario having returned home. The ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response has been actively coordinating with various stakeholders to manage the situation.
Two new evacuation alerts are in place for Fort Frances 39 and Minnesota’s “Thumb Fire,” urging readiness for potential evacuations. Evacuation orders and alerts are still active for various fire-affected areas.
Several roads, including Highway 527 and Highway 811, are closed due to wildfire activity. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) advise the public to stay away from affected areas and follow evacuation orders for their safety and that of emergency responders.
Mail delivery has been halted in several communities due to wildfire impacts. In the northeast region, there are 44 active wildfires, with varying levels of containment.
To enhance firefighting efforts, the ministry is allocating additional resources, including new waterbombers and helicopters, and increasing staffing. After-action reviews will be conducted to improve future responses.
Various aid, including air purifiers, masks, and food supplies, has been provided to affected communities. Feed Ontario and other organizations are actively supporting evacuees, while firefighting equipment has been distributed to regional fire services.
