Northwestern Ontario is contending with a persistent wildfire crisis, as 122 active fires burned across the region according to the latest update from Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) issued Sunday evening. Of the active blazes, 26 are not under control, four are being held, and four are under control, with the remainder being observed.
Six new fires were confirmed in the northwest by Sunday evening, though many were small and have since been extinguished or brought under control. The largest and most concerning wildfire in the region, Thunder Bay 36, continues to burn out of control, spanning over 313,000 hectares. Additional firefighting crews from Alberta have been deployed to assist in suppression efforts, focusing on locating and extinguishing hot spots and constructing fire guards.
Evacuation orders and alerts are still in place for communities near several major fires, including Dryden 36, Thunder Bay 36, 54, and 56, and Dryden 34 and 35. Residents under evacuation orders are required to leave the affected areas, while those under alerts are advised to prepare for potential evacuation. Implementation orders are also in effect, limiting travel in and around specific fire zones to ensure public safety and aid firefighting operations.
The province has maintained a restricted fire zone across northwestern and a portion of northeastern Ontario, prohibiting open-air burning. While the forest fire danger rating is generally low to moderate across most of northwestern Ontario, pockets of high hazard exist in the Nipigon, Dryden, and Kenora fire management sectors, underscoring the ongoing need for vigilance.
